William Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley of Stratton

Berkeley was the third son of John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton, by Christiana, daughter of Sir Andrew Riccard. Charles who held the title two years and John, an Admiral who held the title 16 years were elder brothers. He lived a much longer life.[1] He was born on unknown date between John's 1663 birth and 23 March 1672, all dates which would make him a septuagenarian per his funerary monument.

In 1696 Berkeley was appointed Master of the Rolls in Ireland[1] and sworn of the Irish Privy Council.[1][2] The following year he succeeded his elder brother in the barony.[1] In 1710 he was admitted to the English Privy Council and appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He was made First Lord of Trade in 1714, a post he held until 1715.[1][3] He remained Master of the Rolls in Ireland during this period and continued in this post until 1731.[1]

Lord Berkeley of Stratton married Frances, daughter of Sir John Temple and Jane Yarner; her sister Jane married his elder brother. They had several children, including the Honourable Frances, who married William Byron, 4th Baron Byron, and was the mother of William Byron, 5th Baron Byron, and of Admiral John Byron. Lady Berkeley of Stratton died in July 1707. Lord Berkeley of Stratton remained a widower until his death at Bruton, Somerset, in March 1741. He was succeeded by his eldest son, John.[1]

His pedimented, marble plaque-holding monument engraved with fruit, waves and flourishes in Bruton church reads:[4]

Sub hoc marmore requiescunt Cineres [Beneath this stone rest the ashes]
Guileemi Berkeley[of William Berkeley]
Baronis de Stratton [Baron of Stratton]
Obivit diem septuagenarius [on a date in his 70s]
Anno 1741 [1741]
τα AΛΛΑ επιA, ταύτα σου μνημείων ΈΣΤΩ [but also, these monuments are now]

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