Background
Berkeley was the son of Sir Maurice Berkeley of Bruton, Somerset, of the Bruton branch of the Berkeley family, and his wife Elizabeth Killigrew daughter of Sir Henry Killigrew of Hanworth, Middlesex.
Berkeley was the son of Sir Maurice Berkeley of Bruton, Somerset, of the Bruton branch of the Berkeley family, and his wife Elizabeth Killigrew daughter of Sir Henry Killigrew of Hanworth, Middlesex.
He was educated at Eton College in 1613 and matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford on 3 November 1615 aged 15.
He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. He was knighted in 1623. He was elected Member of Parliament for Bodmin in 1624 and for Heytesbury in 1625, 1626 and 1628.
He sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.
In April 1640, Berkeley was elected Member of Parliament for Bath in the Short Parliament. He helped to organize the local resistance to ship-money, but was a Royalist during the Civil War executing a Commission of Array in 1642.
Following the Restoration, Berkeley was elected Member of Parliament for Heytesbury and Bath in 1661 for the Cavalier Parliament. He was involved in a double returns in both seats but was returned at a by-election for Heytesbury after the election had been declared void and sat until his death.
Berkeley died of apoplexy at the age of 68 and was buried at Bruton.
Berkeley married Penelope Godolphin daughter of Sir William Godolphin of Godolphin, Cornwall and had four sons.
Short Parliament; Cavalier Parliament. Useless Parliament; Happy Parliament. 2nd Parliament of King Charles I]
In 1621 Berkeley was elected Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Somerset.