The HonourableGeorge Charles Grantley FitzHardinge Berkeley (10 February 1800 – 20 February 1881), known as Grantley Berkeley, was a British politician, writer and sportsman.
Berkeley sat as member of parliament for Gloucestershire West from 1832 to 1852 as a Whig. In 1836 he proposed the admission of ladies to the gallery of the House of Commons; this was granted in 1841. After 1852 he devoted himself largely to field sports and writing.
Writings
Berkeley was the author of a number of books, including Berkeley Castle, Sandron Hall, or the Days of Queen Anne (1840), and My Life and Recollections, 4 volumes, (1865–66).
Duel
In 1836, Berkeley assaulted magazine publisher James Fraser over a review he published in Fraser's Magazine of Berkeley Castle. He subsequently fought a duel with the review's author William Maginn. Three rounds of shots were fired, but no one was struck.
Family
Berkeley married Caroline Martha Benfield (1804–1873), daughter of Paul Benfield (1741–1810) and wife Mary Frances, née Swinburne (1771–1828), on 16 August 1824. Their two sons Swinburne and Edward died in 1865 and 1878 respectively. Berkeley was the tenant of Alderney Manor near Poole in Dorset from the early 1860s until 1880.[2] He died on 20 February 1881, aged 81.