William Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley of StrattonPC,PC (I) (died 24 March 1741), was a British politician and judge, of theBruton branch of the Berkeley family. He wasMaster of the Rolls in Ireland between 1696 and 1731 and also held political office asChancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1710 to 1714 and asFirst Lord of Trade from 1714 to 1715.

Berkeley was the third son ofJohn Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton, by Christiana, daughter of Sir Andrew Riccard. Charles, a naval captain who held the title for two years, andJohn, an admiral who held the title for 16 years, were his elder brothers. William lived a much longer life. He was born on an unknown date between John's 1663 birth and 23 March 1672 which would have made William a septuagenarian by the time of his death in 1741.

In 1696 Berkeley was appointedMaster of the Rolls in Ireland and sworn of theIrish Privy Council.^[1] The following year he succeeded his elder brother in the barony. In 1710 he was admitted to theEnglish Privy Council and appointedChancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He was madeFirst Lord of Trade in 1714, a post he held until 1715.^[2] He remained Master of the Rolls in Ireland during this period and continued in this post until 1731.

Lord Berkeley of Stratton married Frances, daughter ofSir John Temple and Jane Yarner; her sister Jane having married his elder brother. Lord Berkeley and his wife had several children, includingthe Honourable Frances, who marriedWilliam Byron, 4th Baron Byron, and was the mother ofWilliam Byron, 5th Baron Byron, and of AdmiralJohn Byron. Lady Berkeley of Stratton died in July 1707. Lord Berkeley of Stratton remained a widower until his death atBruton,Somerset, in March 1741. He was succeeded by his eldest son,John.

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References

• 17th-century births
• 1741 deaths
• 17th-century English politicians
• 18th-century British politicians
• 17th-century Irish judges
• 18th-century Irish judges
• Members of the Privy Council of Great Britain
• Members of the Privy Council of Ireland
• Berkeley family
• Masters of the Rolls in Ireland
• Presidents of the Board of Trade
• Chancellors of the Duchy of Lancaster
• Barons Berkeley of Stratton

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from April 2022
• Year of birth unknown