Baron Charles William De la Poer Beresford Beresford

Born in Ireland in 1846, Charles William de la Poer Beresford built a rare double career as both a Royal Navy officer and a Conservative member of Parliament. He entered the navy as a cadet in 1859 and rose through the ranks while also serving in the House of Commons, a combination that made him unusually visible in public life.

He won notice for his service in Egypt and Sudan, especially during the bombardment of Alexandria in 1882 and the Gordon relief expedition in 1885. Later he held senior commands including the Channel Squadron and the Mediterranean Fleet, and he became known not just for bravery and energy, but for speaking his mind on naval policy.

Beresford was made 1st Baron Beresford in 1916. Remembered as a colorful, forceful, and sometimes combative figure, he stood out in late Victorian and Edwardian Britain as both a fighting admiral and a popular public advocate for the navy.