Maurice Berkeley (Gloucestershire MP)

Sir Maurice Berkeley (died 1654) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1626. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.

Berkeley was the son of Richard Berkeley of Stoke and Rendcomb who was MP for Gloucestershire in 1614.^[1] In 1621, Berkeley was elected Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire.^[2] He was knighted 11 September 1621 at Whitehall.^[3] He was re-elected MP for Gloucestershire at a by-election in 1624 and in 1625 and was elected MP for Great Bedwyn in 1626.^[2]

Berkeley supported the King in the Civil War, arguing later that he was forced to do so and to sign warrants for raising money because of his proximity to Bristol. On 26 January 1647, he begged to compound for delinquency and was set a fine of £1030 on 25 March. He was assessed at £700 on 13 June 1649 and was given an order for his discharge on payment of £330 on 1 August 1649. He was given a similar order on payment of £60 on 5 December 1651 and was charged an additional fine on 30 January 1652 and given an order for his discharge on payment of £125.^[1]

Berkeley died in 1654 and was buried at Stoke on 30 January 1654.^[1]

Berkeley married firstly Elizabeth Coke daughter of Sir Edward Coke of Stoke, and secondly Mary Tipping daughter of Sir George Tipping of Wheatfield Oxfordshire.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Parliamentary History of the County of Gloucester
2. ^ ^{a b} Browne Willis Notitia parliamentaria, or, An history of the counties, cities, and boroughs in England and Wales: ... The whole extracted from mss. and printed evidences 1750 pp229-239
3. ^ Knights of England

Parliament of England
Preceded by Sir William Cooke Richard Berkeley	Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire 1621-1622 With: Sir Robert Tracy	Succeeded by Sir Thomas Estcourt John Dutton
Preceded by Sir Thomas Estcourt John Dutton	Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire 1624-1625 With: John Dutton	Succeeded by Sir Robert Tracy Sir Robert Pointz
Preceded by Sir John Broke William Cholmley	Member of Parliament for Great Bedwyn 1626 With: John Selden	Succeeded by Edward Kyrton John Trevor