John Beresford, 5th Baron Decies
Encyclopedia
John Graham Hope de la Poer Beresford, 5th Baron Decies PC
(5 December 1866 – 31 January 1944), styled The Honourable John Beresford until 1910, was an Anglo-Irish
army officer and civil servant.
before joining the army in 1887.
and did not entitle him to an automatic seat in the House of Lords
. However, in 1912 he was elected as an Irish Representative peer
and was able to take a seat in the upper chamber of Parliament. From 1916-19 he was Chief Press Censor for Ireland.
Time
magazine on May 5, 1930 reported his stance on British taxation:
"The time may have come," said Lord Decies ominously, "when our wealthy men should seriously consider whether they must send their money out of this country." As Director of the British Income Taxpayers' Association, he vowed that he would suggest to them that "the time may have come. ..."
Lady Decies died on February 3, 1931, and following her death, he married Elizabeth Wharton Drexel
, the daughter of Joseph William Drexel
, on May 25, 1936. Elizabeth had previously been married to Harry Lehr.
Asked how to say his name, Lord Decies told The Literary Digest
: "With ci as in conscience it is dee-shees, and Beresford is berysford." (Charles Earle Funk, What's the Name, Please?, Funk & Wagnalls, 1936.)
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(5 December 1866 – 31 January 1944), styled The Honourable John Beresford until 1910, was an Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
army officer and civil servant.
Background and education
Beresford was the second son of William Horsley-Beresford, 3rd Baron Decies, by Catherine Anne Dent, daughter of Commander William Dent. He was educated at EtonEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
before joining the army in 1887.
Career
Beresford's military service was mainly in Africa. In 1910 he succeeded his elder brother in the barony. This was an Irish peeragePeerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
and did not entitle him to an automatic seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. However, in 1912 he was elected as an Irish Representative peer
Representative peer
In the United Kingdom, representative peers were those peers elected by the members of the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of Ireland to sit in the British House of Lords...
and was able to take a seat in the upper chamber of Parliament. From 1916-19 he was Chief Press Censor for Ireland.
Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine on May 5, 1930 reported his stance on British taxation:
"The time may have come," said Lord Decies ominously, "when our wealthy men should seriously consider whether they must send their money out of this country." As Director of the British Income Taxpayers' Association, he vowed that he would suggest to them that "the time may have come. ..."
Family
Lord Decies married Helen Vivien Gould on February 7, 1911. They had three children:- Eileen Vivien de la Poer Beresford (1912–?) who married an O'Brien.
- Catherine Moya de la Poer Beresford (1913–1967).
- Arthur George Marcus Douglas de la Poer Beresford, 6th Baron Decies (1915–1992).
Lady Decies died on February 3, 1931, and following her death, he married Elizabeth Wharton Drexel
Elizabeth Wharton Drexel
Elizabeth Wharton Drexel was an American author and Manhattan socialite.- Birth :She was the daughter of Lucy Wharton and Joseph William Drexel...
, the daughter of Joseph William Drexel
Joseph William Drexel
Joseph William Drexel was a banker, philanthropist, and partner of Baring Brothers in London and Rothschild et fils in Paris.-Biography:...
, on May 25, 1936. Elizabeth had previously been married to Harry Lehr.
Asked how to say his name, Lord Decies told The Literary Digest
Literary Digest
The Literary Digest was an influential general interest weekly magazine published by Funk & Wagnalls. Founded by Isaac Kaufmann Funk in 1890, it eventually merged with two similar weekly magazines, Public Opinion and Current Opinion.-History:...
: "With ci as in conscience it is dee-shees, and Beresford is berysford." (Charles Earle Funk, What's the Name, Please?, Funk & Wagnalls, 1936.)