Maurice Berkeley, 3rd Viscount Fitzhardinge facts for kids

Maurice Berkeley, 3rd Viscount Fitzhardinge PC (Ire) FRS (1628 – 13 June 1690) was an English politician. He was known as Sir Maurice Berkeley, Bt from 1660 to 1668. He belonged to the Berkeley family from Bruton.

Who Was Maurice Berkeley?

Maurice was the oldest son of Sir Charles Berkeley and Elizabeth Killigrew. He was born in 1628. His family lived at Bruton, Somerset.

Early Life and Family

Maurice did not take part in the English Civil War, unlike some of his relatives. In 1649, he married Anne Lee. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Lee, 1st Baronet. Maurice and Anne had two daughters. Anne's stepfather was Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick, who was a powerful leader in the Parliament.

Local Roles Before the King's Return

Before King Charles II returned to the throne, Maurice held some local jobs. In 1657, he helped with taxes in Somerset. He continued this work in 1660. He also joined a group that managed the local army, called the militia, and became a justice of the peace for Somerset.

Working for King Charles II

In April 1660, Maurice became a captain in the militia. He traveled overseas and brought important news to King Charles II. He told the King that Monck supported the King's return to power.

Rewards from the King

For his loyalty, Maurice received a special honor called a baronetcy in July 1660. He also got a job working for the King's brother, the Duke of Gloucester. However, the Duke sadly died soon after, so Maurice's job ended. In June, he became a special assistant to the King. Maurice also held two jobs related to money for a short time. He was in charge of money for the Dunkirk army and helped with wine licenses. He also helped with legal matters in the west of England.

A Member of Parliament

In 1661, Maurice was elected to the English Parliament for Wells. He was quite active in Parliament, working on many committees. However, he spent a lot of time in Ireland.

Life and Work in Ireland

In Ireland, Maurice served as a leader in a region called Connaught from 1662 to 1666. His uncle, John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton, was the main leader there. Maurice was also part of the Privy Council of Ireland in 1663. This was a group of important advisors to the King in Ireland. He also sat in the Parliament of Ireland from 1665 to 1666. From 1666 to 1667, he helped manage tax accounts in Ireland.

Important Roles in England

Back in England, Maurice continued to take on important roles. In 1662, he helped a group in Bristol that looked after loyal but poor officers. He also became a deputy lieutenant for Somerset. From 1673 to 1679, he helped with taxes in Wells. He was also a colonel in the Somerset militia for several years. In 1667, Maurice was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a group of top scientists. In 1675, he became the Custos Rotulorum of Somerset, a very important local official.

Becoming a Viscount

In 1668, Maurice became a regular assistant to King Charles II and held this job until the King died in 1685. He was also a captain in the cavalry, which is a part of the army that rides horses. In 1668, he became the Viscount Fitzhardinge, an Irish title, after his father passed away. This title had first been given to his younger brother.

Later Political Challenges

In 1679, Maurice tried to be elected to Parliament for Somerset, but he lost. He tried again later that year for Bath but was also defeated. Because of this, he was removed from the Somerset tax commission in 1680.

Return to Parliament

However, Maurice was elected for Bath in 1681 and continued to represent the town until he died. He became a freeman of Bath in 1679 and was chosen as a high steward of the town in 1685.

Final Years and Legacy

In 1687, Maurice was removed from his role as deputy lieutenant of Somerset. He was also removed from other local jobs in 1688. But later that year, he was reappointed to some of these roles. After the Glorious Revolution, when William and Mary became King and Queen, Maurice chose not to vote on the change of the throne. In 1689, he became the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, a very high position. He also rejoined the tax commission for the county. In 1690, he was appointed to the tax commission for Bath as well. Maurice died on 13 June 1690. His younger brother John inherited his Irish title, but his English baronetcy ended.