Beresford, Charles William de la Poer (1846–1919)

Irish naval commander and politician. A popular and flamboyant officer, he held appointments as Fourth Lord of the Admiralty (1886–88) and commander of the Mediterranean Fleet (1905–07) and Channel Fleet (1907–09). His service career came to an end after bitter public disagreements with the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir John Fisher, over naval policy and reforms.

Beresford was born in Philipstown, County Offally, the son of the 4th Marquis of Waterford. He joined the navy in 1859, and was given his first command in 1882 for distinguished service at the bombardment of Alexandria, which also earned him great public acclaim and the affectionate nickname ‘Charlie B’. He subsequently served in the Nile expedition of 1884. His political career began in 1874, when he was elected as the Conservative MP for Waterford; he later represented York and Portsmouth in Parliament.

Beresford was raised to the peerage in 1916 as 1st Baron Beresford of Curraghmore. He published a number of works on naval matters, including Life of Nelson and his Times 1897, and The Betrayal 1912, a vitriolic account of his clash with Fisher.