Regency Personalities Series-Sir John Beresford 1st Baronet
Regency Personalities Series
In my attempts to provide us with the details of the Regency, today I continue with one of the many period notables.
Sir John Beresford 1st Baronet
1766 – 2 October 1844
John Beresford
Sir John Beresford 1st Baronet was an illegitimate son of George Beresford, 1st Marquess of Waterford, and the brother of William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford. He joined the Royal Navy in 1782. He was made lieutenant in 1790 and Captain in 1795.
During the War of 1812, he served as captain of HMS Poictiers, during which time he ineffectually bombarded the town of Lewes in Delaware. More importantly, Poictiers participated in an action where, four hours after USS Wasp, commanded by Jacob Jones, captured HMS Frolic, Capt Beresford captured Wasp and recaptured Frolic, and brought both to Bermuda.
He was made Rear Admiral in 1814. Vice-Admiral in 1825. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1830. He was made full Admiral in 1838.
He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Coleraine (1809–1812 and 1814–1823), Berwick-upon-Tweed 1823–1826, Northallerton (1826–1832), and Chatham 1835–1837. He rose to the rank of Second Sea Lord.
Beresford was knighted in 1812, and made a baronet in 1814, of Bagnall in the County of Waterford (see Beresford baronets).
In 1809 Beresford married Marry Molloy, the daughter of Captain Anthony James Pye Molloy; they had a son, George, before Mary’s death in 1813. In 1815 Beresford was remarried to Harriet Elizabeth Peirse, daughter of Henry Peirce, and with her had three sons and two daughters. Harriet died in 1825, and Beresford was again married to Amelia Peach, widow of Samuel Peach and daughter of James Bailie. They had no children, and Amelia outlived him. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son from the first marriage, George, who, as he had no surviving sons, was later succeeded by his half-nephew.
