BERES FORD

William Carr Beres ford , 1 Viscount ( natural son of George de la Poer Beres ford, 1 Marquis of Water ford 1735–1800 ). b. Ireland 2 Oct. 1768; ed. at Stra burg; ensign 6 Foot 27 Aug. 1785; lieut. col. of 124 or Water ford Foot (a regiment raised by his father) 11 Aug. 1794; lieut. col. 88 Foot 1 Sep. 1795 to 9 Feb. 1807; commanded first brigade in Egypt June 1801 to 1802 and first brigade at Cape of Good Hope 1806; captured Buenos Ayres 27 June 1806 but lost it 12 Aug.; colonel 88 Foot 9 Feb. 1807 to 11 March 1819; governor of Madeira 24 Dec. 1807 to July 1808; marshal commanding Portugese army 1 March 1809 to 1819; captain general of Spain 1811; commander in chief at battle of Albuera 16 May 1811; voted the thanks of Parliament 7 June 1811; received a cro with 7 clasps for 12 actions July 1815; governor of Jersey 29 Jany. 1820 to death; col. 69 Foot 11 March 1819 to 15 March 1823; col. 16 Foot 15 March 1823 to death; lieutenant general of the ordnance 8 Feb. 1823 to 3 May 1824, master general 29 Jany. 1828 to 22 Nov. 1830; general 27 May 1825; col. in chief 60 Rifles 23 Sep. 1852 to death; K.C.B. 18 Oct. 1810, G.C.B. 2 Jany. 1815; knighted at White hall 23 Oct. 1810; Conde de Trancoso in peerage of Portugal 1810; Duke of Elvas in peerage of Spain; M.P. for co. Water ford 28 June 1811 to 17 May 1814 but never took his seat; created Baron Beres ford of Albuera and Dungarvan, co. Water ford 17 May 1814; G.C.H. 1818; P.C. 6 Feb. 1821; created Viscount Beres ford of Beres ford, co. Stafford 22 April 1823. d. Bedgebury park, Goudhurst Kent 8 Jany. 1854. J. W. Cole’s Memoirs of British generals i , 165–217 (1856); W. C. Taylor’s National portrait gallery iv , 96 (1848), portrait ; I.L.N. xxi , 545 (1852), portrait, xxiv 38, 58 (1854), portrait ; Napier’s Peninsular War vol. iii .