Marcus Beresford (Conservative politician)

Colonel Francis Marcus Beresford (August 1818 – 1 August 1890)[1] was a British Conservative Party politician

"Southwark". Caricature by Spy published in Vanity Fair in 1876.
Funerary monument, Brompton Cemetery, London

Early life and education edit

He was born at Aylestone, Leicestershire, the fourth son of Rev Gilbert Beresford and his wife Anne.[2] He was educated at King's College School, and went into business as a wharfinger.[2]

Career edit

During the invasion scare of 1859, Beresford raised the 7th (Southwark) Surrey Rifle Volunteer Corps in December and commanded it with the rank of Captain-Commandant.[3][4][5] By February 1860 the unit had six companies, and Beresford was promoted to Major-Commandant.[5][6] He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 19 November 1864.[7] After his retirement from the command, he was appointed the honorary colonel of the battalion (later the 4th Volunteer Battalion, East Surrey Regiment) on 25 January 1873.[8]

He was elected at a by-election in February 1870 as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Southwark.[9] He was re-elected in 1874, and held the seat until he stood down at the 1880 general election.[9]

Personal life edit

He married twice. Firstly, Elizabeth Green, the daughter of George Green, on 20 September 1848 at St. Oswald Parish Church, Durham. They had six children. Secondly, Eleanor Richardson on 2 June 1881 at St. George, Hanover Square, London. His daughter Selina (1859–1938) married Sir Hay Frederick Donaldson, the son of Sir Stuart Donaldson.

He died on 1 August 1890 at Cliftonthorpe, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.[citation needed]

References edit

  1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 4)
  2. ^ a b Robert Henry Mair, ed. (1872). Debrett's House of Commons and The Judicial Bench 1886. London: Dean and Son. p. 60. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  3. ^ London Gazette, 6 December 1859.
  4. ^ Ian F.W. Beckett, Riflemen Form: A Study of the Rifle Volunteer Movement 1859–1908, Aldershot: Ogilby Trusts, 1982, ISBN 0 85936 271 X, Appendix VII.
  5. ^ a b Ray Westlake, Tracing the Rifle Volunteers, Barnsley: Pen and Sword, 2010, ISBN 978-1-84884-211-3, pp. 230–3.
  6. ^ London Gazette, 28 February 1860.
  7. ^ London Gazette, 22 November 1864.
  8. ^ Army List.
  9. ^ a b Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 17. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.

External links edit

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Southwark
18701880
With: John Locke to 1880
Edward Clarke 1880
Succeeded by