Biography of Colonel William Berkeley 1st Earl Fitzhardinge 1786-1857

On 26th December 1786 Colonel William Berkeley 1st Earl Fitzhardinge was born illegitimately to Frederick Augustus Berkeley 5th Earl Berkeley [aged 41] and Mary Cole. He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

In 1810 [his father] Frederick Augustus Berkeley 5th Earl Berkeley [aged 65] died. His eldest son Colonel William Berkeley 1st Earl Fitzhardinge [aged 23] claimed the Earl Berkeley unsuccessfully.

[his brother] Thomas Moreton FitzHardinge Berkeley 6th Earl of Berkeley [aged 13] de jure 6th Earl Berkeley, 6th Viscount Dursley, 14th Baron Berkeley. He never claimed or established his right to either title.

In 1821 Colonel William Berkeley 1st Earl Fitzhardinge [aged 34] was sued for crimial conversation by John Waterhouse for having had an affair with Mrs Waterhouse. John Waterhouse was awarded £1000 damages.

In 1823 [his illegitimate brother] Admiral Maurice Berkeley 1st Baron FitzHardinge [aged 34] and [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Lennox [aged 19] were married. She the daughter of Charles Lennox 4th Duke Richmond and Charlotte Gordon Duchess Richmond [aged 54]. He the illegitmate son of [his father] Frederick Augustus Berkeley 5th Earl Berkeley and [his mother] Mary Cole. They were third cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

In 1831 Colonel William Berkeley 1st Earl Fitzhardinge [aged 44] was created 1st Baron Segrave.

In 1834 [his illegitimate brother] Admiral Maurice Berkeley 1st Baron FitzHardinge [aged 45] and [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Moreton Baroness FitzHardinge [aged 27] were married. She the daughter of Thomas Reynolds-Moreton 1st Earl Ducie [aged 57] and Frances Herbert Baroness Ducie Tortworth. He the illegitmate son of [his father] Frederick Augustus Berkeley 5th Earl Berkeley and [his mother] Mary Cole.

In 1841 Colonel William Berkeley 1st Earl Fitzhardinge [aged 54] was created 1st Earl Fitzhardinge.

Adeline Horsey Recollections. From Cowes we went to stay with the Ailesburys at Savernake, and then to Badminton, where the Beauforts had a large family party. The church was attached to the house, and one actually walked out of the library into the Parish Church, where the roomy Beaufort pew was well warmed by a fire. I remember going with the Duchess, my mother [aged 42], and Lord Cantelupe [aged 27] to see Berkeley Castle [Map], a most interesting but very uncomfortable draughty old place. I afterwards heard that Colonel Berkeley [aged 55], whose name figured in certain scandals of the Regency, had spent much of his time there with the numerous frail ladies who found him irresistible.

On 10th October 1857 Colonel William Berkeley 1st Earl Fitzhardinge [aged 70] died at Berkeley Castle [Map]. Earl Fitzhardinge and Baron Segrave extinct.