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Marcus Beresford (British Army officer, born 1764)

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For other people named Marcus Beresford, see Marcus Beresford (disambiguation).

Brigadier-General Marcus Beresford (1 June 1764 – 6 January 1803) was an Irish soldier and Member of Parliament.

Early life

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He was a son of the Archbishop of Tuam, William Beresford, by his wife Elizabeth, sister of John FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare.[1] He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin.[2]

Career

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Beresford began his military career when he was commissioned as an ensign into the 9th Regiment of Foot on 26 October 1786.[3] He was promoted to lieutenant on 30 June 1787[4] and then to captain in the 27th Regiment of Foot, later commanding an Independent Company.[citation needed]

On 31 October 1793, he was promoted to first major in the 102nd Regiment of Foot (Trench's)[5] and on 26 November 1794 to lieutenant-colonel in the 135th Regiment of Foot (Sir Vere Hunt's).[6] He was appointed Lieutenant-General of the Irish Ordnance in 1800[7] and promoted full colonel on 1 January 1801.[8]

He represented St Canice in the Irish House of Commons from 1790[9] to 1794 and Swords from 1798 until the Act of Union 1800.[10] On 22 June 1802, he was breveted to the local rank of brigadier-general in the Windward and Leeward Islands.[11]

The West Indies garrisons were infamous for mortality through tropical diseases, such as malaria and yellow fever. Accordingly, Beresford made out a will on 23 November 1802 in Barbados. This proved to be a wise precaution, as he died there on 6 January.[12][13]

Personal life

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He died unmarried, predeceasing his father, who was created Baron Decies in 1812 and succeeded by Marcus's younger brother John in 1819.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Edmund Lodge, The Peerage of the British Empire, third edition (London, 1834) page 135
  2. ^ "Alumni Dublinenses: a register of the students, graduates, professors and provosts of Trinity College in the University of Dublin (1593–1860)" George Dames Burtchaell/Thomas Ulick Sadleir p61: Dublin, Alex Thom and Co, 1935
  3. ^ "No. 12823". The London Gazette. 23 January 1787. p. 34.
  4. ^ "No. 12919". The London Gazette. 11 September 1787. p. 413.
  5. ^ "No. 13625". The London Gazette. 22 February 1794. p. 160.
  6. ^ "No. 13749". The London Gazette. 7 February 1795. p. 124.
  7. ^ "No. 15306". The London Gazette. 1 November 1800. p. 1228.
  8. ^ "No. 15326". The London Gazette. 10 January 1801. p. 38.
  9. ^ "No. 13203". The London Gazette. 25 May 1790. p. 315.
  10. ^ Leigh Rayment, Irish House of Commons 1692-1800[usurped]. Accessed 7 April 2012.
  11. ^ "No. 15490". The London Gazette. 19 June 1802. p. 650.
  12. ^ Buckley, Roger Norman (1998). The British Army in the West Indies. University Press of Florida. p. 278. ISBN 9780813016047.
  13. ^ "Deaths abroad". Monthly Magazine and British Register. 16: 503. 1803.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by Member of Parliament for St Canice
1790–1794
With: John Monck Mason 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Swords
1798–1800
With: Francis Synge 		Constituency abolished
Government offices
Preceded by Lieutenant-General of the Irish Ordnance
1800 		Office abolished
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