BERESFORD, CHARLES WILLIAM DE LA POER BERESFORD, IST BARON (1846-1919), British admiral, second son of the Rev. John de la Poer Beresford, later 4th marquis of Waterford, was born at Philipstown, King's County, on Feb. Io, 1846, and died on Sept. 6, 1919. He entered the "Britannia" as a naval cadet in 1859. He rose steadily in the navy and in May 1877 was appointed commander of the "Thunderer." From 18 7 9-81 he was in command of the royal yacht "Osborne." He had served under Prince Alfred, duke of Edinburgh, in the "Galatea" in 1868, and in 1875 accompanied the prince of Wales (Edward VII.) on his tour to India. He entered Parliament in 1874 as member for Waterford, and held his seat until 188o; but he was principally known at this period as a sportsman and as a personal friend of the prince of Wales.
At the Egyptian crisis of 1882 he was in command of the gun boat "Condor" in the Mediterranean, and became a popular hero in England in connection with his share of the bombardment of Alexandria (July I I), when he took the leading part in engaging and silencing Fort Marabout in that operation. He was then sent ashore by Captain John (afterwards Lord) Fisher to restore order, which he did with complete efficiency. For this service he was promoted captain, and in Aug. 1884 he was sent to Egypt to act on the staff of Lord Wolseley in the expedition for the relief of Khartum. He commanded the naval brigade at Abu Klea, Abu Kru, and Metemmeh, and with the naval steamer "Safieh" rescued Sir Charles Wilson and his party, who had been wrecked on returning from Khartum (Feb. 4 1885) .
On his return home he became M.P. for East Marylebone, and was made 4th naval lord of the Admiralty under Lord George Hamilton in the Salisbury ministry of 1886, but resigned in Jan. 1888, on account of disagreement with the government's naval programme. Lord Charles was an advocate of the big navy pro gramme, and his criticisms of the government had much to do with the passing of the Naval Defence Act, 1889. In that year he resumed active service afloat, becoming a rear-admiral in 1897. He sat in Parliament for York (1897-1900), and for Woolwich (1902-03). In 1903 he again returned to active service, com manding first the Mediterranean fleet, and then the Channel fleet, retiring in 1909. He became a full admiral in 1906.
During the tenure of the Admiralty by Sir John Fisher (Lord Fisher), he was of ten in disagreement with the Board, and as soon as he hauled down his flag in March 1909, he attacked the whole policy of the Board of Admiralty in a document addressed to the prime minister. This document was referred to a sub committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, which reported, in Aug. 1909 in a sense generally adverse to Lord Charles. He re-entered Parliament as member for Portsmouth in 1910, hold ing the seat until Jan. 1916, when he went to the House of Lords as Baron Beresford. He was placed on the retired list in 1911, and in 1912 published a book entitled The Betrayal, in which he expressed his views on the naval question. Memories (1914) is an entertaining hook, in which very little is said of the long con troversy between him and Lord Fisher. As a flag-officer Lord Charles was extremely popular in the fleet, and showed great energy and ability. Indeed, he was one of the most popular figures in public life. On his death on Sept. 16, 1919, the peerage con ferred on him in 1916 became extinct.