Background
Berkeley was the eighth son of William Berkeley, mayor and Member of Parliament for Hereford, great-nephew of William 1st Marquess of Berkeley.
Berkeley was the eighth son of William Berkeley, mayor and Member of Parliament for Hereford, great-nephew of William 1st Marquess of Berkeley.
Rowland Berkeley became a successful clothier at Worcester. He bought Spetchley Park from Philip Sheldon. He was bailiff of Worcester in 1585 and 1587.
He was appointed first master of the Clothers Company of Worcester under the Clothers Charter of 23 September 1590.
He was re-elected Member of Parliament for Worcester in 1597 and 1601. In 1605 he was elected Member of Parliament for Worcester again in a by-election and sat until his death in 1611.
Berkeley married 15 April 1574 Catherine Hayward, daughter of Thomas Hayward. Their children included:
William Berkeley (1582-1658) of Cotheridge
Robert Berkeley (1584-1656) of Spetchley.
In 1593, he was elected Member of Parliament for Worcester.