BERESFORD, JOHN (1738-1805), Irish statesman, was born on March 14, 1738, a younger son of Sir Marcus Beresford who, having married Catherine, sole heiress of James Power, 3rd earl of Tyrone, was created earl of Tyrone in 1746. After the death of the earl in 1763, Beresford's mother successfully asserted her claim suo jure to the barony of La Poer. John Beresford was educated at Trinity college, Dublin, was called to the Irish bar, and entered the Irish parliament as member for Waterford in 1760. He was admitted of the privy council in 1768, and became one of the commissioners of revenue in 1770. In 1780 he became first commissioner of revenue, a position which gave him powerful influence in the Irish administration. He introduced some useful reforms in the machinery of taxation ; and he was the author of many improvements in the architecture of the public buildings and streets of Dublin. He was first brought into conflict with Grattan and the popular party, in 1784, by his support of the proposal that the Irish parliament in return for the removal of restrictions on Irish trade should be bound to adopt the English navigation laws. In 1786 he was sworn a member of the English privy coun cil, and the power which he wielded in Ireland through his numer ous dependants and connections grew to be so extensive that a few years later he was spoken of as the "king of Ireland." He was a vehement opponent of the increasing demand for relief of the Roman Catholics; and opposed the nomination of Lord Fitz william as lord lieutenant in 1795 for the purpose of carrying out a conciliatory policy. One of Fitzwilliam's first acts was to dis miss Beresford, who appealed to Pitt, and went in person to Lon don to lay his complaint before the English ministers. There is little doubt that the recall of Lord Fitzwilliam (q.v.), which was followed by such momentous consequences in the history of Ire land, was, as the viceroy himself believed, mainly due to Beres ford's dismissal. There had been a misunderstanding on the point between Pitt and Fitzwilliam. The latter, whose veracity was un impeachable, asserted that previous to his coming to Ireland, he had informed the prime minister of his intention to dismiss Beres ford, and that Pitt had raised no objection. In a letter to Lord Carlisle, justifying his action, Fitzwilliam mentioned that mal versation had been imputed to Beresf ord. Beresford sent a challenge to Fitzwilliam, but the combatants were interrupted on the field and Fitzwilliam then made an apology.
When Lord Camden replaced Fitzwilliam in the viceroyalty in March 1795 Beresford resumed his former position. On the eve of the rebellion in 1798 his letters to Lord Auckland gave an alarming description of the condition of Ireland and he counselled strong measures of repression. When first consulted by Pitt on the question of the union Beresford appears to have disliked the idea; but he soon became reconciled to the policy and warmly supported it. After the union Beresford continued to represent Waterford in the imperial parliament, and he remained in office till 1802, taking an active part in settling the financial relations between Ireland and Great Britain. He died near Londonderry on Nov. 5, 1805. His son, John Claudius, kept a riding school in Dublin, which acquired an evil reputation as the chief scene of the floggings by which evidence was extorted of the conspiracy which came to a head in 1798. He took a prominent part in the Irish House of Commons, where he unsuccessfully moved the re duction of the proposed Irish contribution to the imperial ex chequer in the debates on the Act of Union, of which, unlike his father, he was to the last an ardent opponent.