Robert Byerley facts for kids
Robert Byerley (born 1660, died 1714) was an English soldier and politician. He lived at Middridge Grange in County Durham and Goldsborough Hall in Yorkshire. He was a member of the English and British Parliament for many years. Robert Byerley is most famous for owning the Byerley Turk, a very important horse. This horse is considered one of the three main "founding fathers" of all Thoroughbred racehorses today.
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Early Life and Family
Robert Byerley was born in 1660. He was the fourth son of Anthony Byerley and Anne Hutton. His mother, Anne, was the daughter of Sir Richard Hutton, who owned Goldsborough Hall. Robert went to Queen's College, Oxford in 1677 to study.
A Soldier's Life
Robert Byerley had a military career. In 1685, he was a captain in the army. He later joined the Queen Dowager's Horse, which became the 6th Dragoon Guards. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1689 and then to colonel.
People say he fought in the Battle of Buda in 1686, but there is no clear proof. However, it is known that he fought in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. This was an important battle in Ireland.
The Byerley Turk
Robert Byerley is especially famous for owning the Byerley Turk. This horse is one of the three original stallions that all modern Thoroughbred racehorses come from. The Byerley Turk's exact beginnings are still a bit of a mystery, but its legacy is huge in horse racing history.
A Career in Politics
Besides being a soldier, Robert Byerley was also a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to represent an area in the country's government. He was a member of the Tory party.
He was first elected as an MP for County Durham in 1685 and again in 1689. Later, he represented Knaresborough in Parliament many times, from 1695 until 1713.
Goldsborough Hall and Family
Robert Byerley lived at Goldsborough Hall, a large house near Knaresborough in Yorkshire. He inherited this beautiful home from his wife's family.
On March 17, 1692, he married his cousin, Mary Wharton. Mary's first marriage was annulled (officially ended) by an Act of Parliament in 1690. Robert and Mary had two sons and three daughters. However, none of their children had any children of their own. Because there were no heirs to take over the Goldsborough estate, the Hall and its lands were sold around 1760 to Daniel Lascelles.
