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Henry Berkeley

1579 – 1667

English politician

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About Henry Berkeley

Lived 1579 – 1667 (aged 87–88). Henry Berkeley was a politician.

Sir Henry Berkeley (1579–1667) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1626 and 1640. He supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War

Berkeley was the son of Sir Henry Berkeley of Bruton and his wife Margaret Lygon, daughter of William Lygon of Madresfield, Worcestershire. He matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford aged 11 on 13 February 1590 together with his brother Maurice. In 1601 he inherited the manor of Yarlington on the death of his father. He was knighted at Whitehall on 29 April 1609.

In 1626 Berkeley was elected Member of Parliament for Somerset. In 1628 he was elected MP for Ilchester and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. In April 1640, Berkeley was elected MP for Ilchester in the Short Parliament. Berkeley was a Commissioner of Array for the King during the Civil War, and was included in the surrender of Exeter on 13 April 1646.

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Important facts

Born
1579
Birth century
Died
1667
Occupation
Education
The Queen's College
Positions held
Member of Parliament in the Parliament of England, Member of the 1614 Parliament, Member of the 1626 Parliament, Member of the 1628-29 Parliament
Also known as
Sir Henry Berkeley

People in Henry Berkeley's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Henry Berkeley's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Henry Berkeley?

English politician

When was Henry Berkeley born?

Henry Berkeley was born in 1579.

When did Henry Berkeley die?

Henry Berkeley died in 1667.

What was Henry Berkeley's occupation?

Henry Berkeley was a politician.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Henry Berkeley

· Wikidata: Q5718104

· DBpedia: Henry Berkeley (MP for Ilchester)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry Berkeley. https://biography.guide/henry-berkeley/

MLA: "Henry Berkeley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-berkeley/.

Chicago: "Henry Berkeley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-berkeley/.

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