Ralph Bernal
Ralph Bernal (2 October 1783[1] or 2 October 1784[2] – 26 August 1854) was a British Whig[3] politician and art collector.
His parents, Jacob Israel Bernal and wife Leah da Silva,[4] were Sephardi Jews of Spanish and Portuguese origin, but he was baptised at St Olave Hart Street in London.[1][5] His father was a merchant.
During his youth he became an actor and he performed to acclaim in several works by William Shakespeare, during which time he gained a reputation for oratory. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Lincoln 1818-20[6] and MP for Rochester from 1820-41 and again from 1847-52.[2] From 1842-47 he was MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.[7]
Bernal was president of the British Archaeological Society in 1853.[8] He built up a substantial collection of glass, ceramics and other art objects, which were auctioned after his death, with the 4,000 lots selling for £70,000.[1]
He married Ann Elizabeth White in April 1806.[9] His eldest son was Ralph Bernal Osborne (1808–1882), a politician, who took on the surname Osborne on marrying the daughter of Sir Thomas Osborne, 9th Baronet.[10]
References
- 1 2 3 Davies, Helen (2004). "Bernal, Ralph (1783–1854)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 15 November 2010. available online to subscribers, and also in print
- 1 2 Rayment, Leigh. "Rochester (Kent)". House of Commons. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
- ↑ Stooks Smith, Henry (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S., ed. The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 97, 203, 170–71. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
- ↑ "CRAWLEY m. BERNAL 1792". Curiousfox.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ↑ Members Constituencies Parliaments Surveys. "BERNAL, Ralph (1783-1854), of 11 Park Crescent, Mdx.". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ↑ Rayment, Leigh. "Lincoln (Lincolnshire)". House of Commons. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
- ↑ Rayment, Leigh. "Weymouth &Melcombe Regis (Dorset)". House of Commons. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
- ↑ British Archaeological Society website; accessed 12 June 2016.
- ↑ "Joy-Lumsden-Kingston-6 - User Trees". genealogy.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ↑ Beales, Derek (2004). "Osborne, Ralph Bernal (1808?–1882)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 15 November 2010. Available online to subscribers, and also in print
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Ralph Bernal
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Nicholas Fazakerley Coningsby Waldo-Sibthorpe |
Member of Parliament for Lincoln 1818 – 1820 With: Coningsby Waldo-Sibthorpe |
Succeeded by Coningsby Waldo-Sibthorpe Robert Percy Smith |
| Preceded by Lord Binning James Barnett |
Member of Parliament for Rochester 1820 – 1841 With: Lord Binning 1820-1826 Henry Dundas 1826-1830 Viscount Villiers 1830-1831 John Mills 1831-1835 Thomas Twisden Hodges 1835-1837 Thomas Benjamin Hobhouse 1837-1841 |
Succeeded by James Douglas William Bodkin |
| Preceded by Viscount Villiers George William Hope |
Member of Parliament for Weymouth & Melcombe Regis 1842 – 1847 With: William Dougal Christie |
Succeeded by William Dougal Christie William Lockyer Freestun |
| Preceded by James Douglas Stoddart Douglas William Bodkin |
Member of Parliament for Rochester 1847 – 1852 With: Thomas Twisden Hodges |
Succeeded by Hon. Francis Child Villiers Sir Thomas Maddock |