John Berkeley, 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge facts for kids

John Berkeley, 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge (born 1650, died 1712) was an important English person. He worked for the King and Queen, was an army officer, and a politician. He was a member of the English and British Parliament for many years, from 1690 to 1710.

Early Life of John Berkeley

John Berkeley was born in 1650. He was the second son of Charles Berkeley, 2nd Viscount Fitzhardinge. His family was very involved in serving the King. John himself worked for King Charles II as a Page of Honour from 1668 to 1672. A Page of Honour was like a special helper to the King. John's older brother, Maurice, inherited the family title before John did.

John Berkeley's Career

Joining the Army

John Berkeley started his army career in 1673. He quickly moved up the ranks. By 1675, he was a captain in the 1st Foot Guards. In 1678, he became a lieutenant-colonel. He was also in charge of horses for Princess Anne from 1685 to 1702.

Military Battles and Leadership

John Berkeley fought in the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685. This was an important battle in English history. After the battle, he became a colonel of his own group of soldiers called Dragoons. This group later became known as the 4th Queen's Own Hussars. He led them from 1685 to 1688 and again from 1688 to 1693. In 1690, he was promoted to brigadier-general. He married Barbara, who was the daughter of Sir Edward Villiers.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1690, John inherited the family title of Viscount Fitzhardinge from his brother Maurice. He also took over the family home in Bruton, Somerset. He became a very important local official there, called the Custos Rotulorum of Somerset, until he died.

In 1691, John Berkeley became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hindon. This meant he helped make laws for the country. He worked on committees that looked at how much money the army was spending. From 1692 to 1693, he was also the Governor of Kinsale, a town in Ireland.

Working for the Government

In 1694, John Berkeley got a job for life called Teller of the Receipt of the Exchequer. This meant he helped manage the government's money. In 1695, he became an MP again, this time for Windsor. He supported the King's government. He voted on important money matters, like setting the price of gold coins.

He continued to be an MP for Windsor in 1698, 1701, and 1702. In 1702, Queen Anne made him her Treasurer of the Chamber. This was another important role in the royal household, managing the Queen's personal expenses. His wife, Barbara, also received a pension because she had been a governess (a teacher) to the Queen's son, the Duke of Gloucester, who had passed away.

Later Political Life

John Berkeley was re-elected as an MP in 1705 and 1708. He was part of the Whig political group. In 1709, he voted to allow people from a place called Palatine to become British citizens. In 1710, he voted to impeach (formally accuse) Dr. Sacheverell, a famous preacher. John Berkeley retired from Parliament in 1710. The Queen allowed him to keep his important jobs in the government and royal household.

Death and Family

Viscount Fitzhardinge passed away in Windsor on December 19, 1712. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, a very famous church in London. He had two daughters with his wife, Barbara:

• Hon. Frances Berkeley: She married Sir Thomas Clarges, 2nd Bt. They had two children.
• Hon. Mary Berkeley (died 1741): She married Walter Chetwynd, 1st Viscount Chetwynd. She was also a maid of honor to Queen Anne.

Since John Berkeley did not have any sons, his title of Viscount Fitzhardinge ended when he died.