George Berkeley (British Army officer)

General Sir George Henry Frederick Berkeley KCB (9 July 1785 – 25 September 1857) was a British Army officer and Conservative politician.

Sir George Berkeley
Born	(1785-07-09)9 July 1785
Died	25 September 1857(1857-09-25) (aged 72)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Rank	General
Commands	Madras Army
Battles / wars	Waterloo Campaign Crimean War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Military career

Berkeley was the eldest son of Admiral Sir George Cranfield Berkeley, third son of Augustus Berkeley, 4th Earl of Berkeley. His mother was Emilia Charlotte, daughter of Lord George Lennox.

At the start of the Waterloo Campaign of 1815, he was the Duke of Wellington's liaison officer at the Prince of Orange's headquarters.^[1] He was also created KCB in 1815. He became Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army in 1848^[2] and Surveyor-General of the Ordnance in 1852.^[3]

He was given the colonelcy of the 81st Regiment of Foot in 1844,^[4] transferring in 1845 to the 35th Regiment of Foot, a position he held until his death.^[5] He was promoted full general on 20 June 1854.^[6]

Political career

Berkeley was returned to Parliament for Devonport in 1852, a seat he held until 1857.

Family

Berkeley died in September 1857, aged 72.

He had married Lucy, daughter of Sir Thomas Sutton, 1st Baronet, in 1815. They had three sons and one daughter. His third son, George, succeeded as 7th Earl of Berkeley in 1882. Lady Berkeley died in February 1870.