Randal Thomas Mowbray Berkeley, 8th Earl of Berkeley facts for kids
Randal Thomas Mowbray Berkeley, 8th Earl of Berkeley (born January 31, 1865 – died January 15, 1942) was a British nobleman, a scientist who studied chemistry, and a landowner. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), which means he was part of a very important group of scientists.
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Early Life and Family
Randal Berkeley was born in Ixelles, Brussels, which is in Belgium. He was the third son of George Lennox Rawdon Berkeley. His mother was Cécile.
Becoming an Earl
In 1882, when Randal was 17, his father became the 7th Earl of Berkeley and Viscount Dursley. These were important noble titles. When his father passed away in 1888, Randal inherited these titles and became the 8th Earl of Berkeley. He officially confirmed his right to these titles in 1891.
Randal Berkeley spent his early years living abroad with his parents. He went to school in France. Later, he returned to England to prepare for a career in the Royal Navy. He studied at Dr. Burney's Academy to get ready for the entrance exams.
In 1878, Randal joined HMS Britannia, a training ship for the Royal Navy. From 1880 to 1887, he served on various ships. He even spent time serving in the China Station, which was a naval base in Asia. He also attended the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, where he continued his studies.
A Shift to Science
His time in the navy sparked his interest in science and mathematics. In 1887, he decided to leave the navy to focus entirely on scientific research. He then studied at the Royal College of Science. There, he became very interested in how crystals are formed and structured.
