BERESFORD, ber'es-filrd, Lord CHARLES WILLIAM DE LA POER ( 1846—). A British naval officer and parliamentarian, born in the county of Waterford, Ireland, the second son of the Rev. John, fourth Marquis of Waterford. He was educated at private schools, and entered the sehoolship Britannia as cadet in 1859. He was made a, sublieutenant in 1866, lieutenant in 1808, commander in 1875, captain in 1882, and rear-admiral in 1897. In 1896-97 he was aide de-camp to Queen Victoria. At the bombard ment of Alexandria in 1882 he was in command of the gunboat Condor, and succeeded in silenc ing one of the most formidable of the Egyptian batteries, under eircm»stances demanding the utmost skill and bravery. After the bombard ment, and during the temporary occupation of the city, he acted as chief of police. In 1884 he served with the Nile column of the Gordon Relief Expedition. and commanded the Sofia., whose action, handicapped by a temporarily re paired boiler, saved the entire column. He was in command of the naval brigade at the battles of Abu Klea, Abu Kru, and Aletemmeh. He was subsequently made a Commander of the Order of the Bath. With the possible exception of Lord
Roberts and Lord Kitchener. he is more popular with the British people than any other naval or military officer. He served as a member of Parliament for Waterford (1874-80), East Ma rylebone ( 1885-90 ) , and York ( 189S-1900 ) , which latter scat he resigned to go into active service. In 1902 he was a member of Parliament for Woolwich, being at that time on the retired list. In 1898 Beresford went to China as the repre sentative of the Associated British Chambers of Commerce, and returned by way of the United States, where he made important speeches ad vocating the 'open-door' policy in China, and a closer union of the United States, England, and Germany with regard thereto. lie is an en thusiastic officer, and occupies his seat in Parlia ment as the avowed champion of the navy and its interests. He has written: Life of Nelson and His Times; The Break-up of China (1899); and many minor articles and essays on naval and Imperial questions, besides his numerous contri butions to the Times.