Berkeley Sheffield facts for kids
Sir Berkeley Digby George Sheffield (born January 19, 1876 – died November 26, 1946) was an important British politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Conservative Party. He also held the title of a Baronet, which is a special inherited title in the British system.
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About Sir Berkeley Sheffield
Berkeley Sheffield was born in London. His father was Sir Robert Sheffield, who was also a Baronet. When his father passed away in 1886, Berkeley inherited the title and became the 6th Baronet.
His Education and Early Career
Berkeley went to a famous school called Eton College. He also studied in France and Germany, which helped him learn about other cultures. He served in the military with the Lincolnshire Regiment and also worked in the Diplomatic Service, which means he helped represent Britain in other countries.
Family Life
In 1904, he married Baroness Julie Marie de Tuyll van Serooskerken from the Netherlands. She was also a very active person, receiving awards for her work. They had five children together: one daughter and four sons. One of his sons was named George Berkeley Sheffield.
Service in World War I
During the First World War, Berkeley Sheffield served as a Captain in the military, specifically with the Lincolnshire Yeomanry. This shows he was committed to serving his country.
Later Life and Public Roles
After the war, Sir Berkeley Sheffield became a Member of Parliament for the area called Brigg from 1922 to 1929. An MP is someone elected to represent their local area in the country's main government, helping to make laws and decisions.
He was also a director for the Great Central Railway company for many years. This meant he helped manage the railway system. He was a Justice of the Peace in Lincolnshire, which is a local judge who handles minor legal cases. In 1936, he became the Mayor of Scunthorpe, a town in Lincolnshire. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant, a special role helping the King or Queen's representative in the county.
Sir Berkeley Sheffield lived in London and was a member of several well-known clubs. Interestingly, he is the great-great-grandfather of the famous model and actress Cara Delevingne and the great-grandfather of Samantha Cameron, who is married to a former British Prime Minister.
Political Journey
Sir Berkeley Sheffield was involved in local politics before he became a national MP.
Local Government Roles
From 1902 to 1906, he was a member of the Lindsey County Council, which helped manage local services in the area. He then became an alderman (a senior member of the council) from 1908 to 1915. In 1905, he held the important local position of High Sheriff of Lincolnshire.
Serving as a Member of Parliament
In February 1907, he was first elected as a Member of Parliament for the Brigg area. However, he lost his seat in the election of February 1910. He was re-elected for Brigg in 1922 and served until May 1929, when he was defeated again.
When Scunthorpe became an official town in 1936, Sir Berkeley Sheffield had the honor of being its very first mayor.
