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Marcus Beresford (Conservative politician)

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

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

Early life and education

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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

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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

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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

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