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.

Early life

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.

Career

He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Lincoln 1818–20[6] and MP for Rochester from 1820 to 1841 and again from 1847 to 1852.[2] From 1842 to 1847 he was MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.[7]

According to the Legacies of British Slave-Ownership at the University College London, Bernal was awarded a payment as a slave trader in the aftermath of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 with the Slave Compensation Act 1837. The British Government took out a £15 million loan (worth £1.8 billion in 2024[8]) with interest from Nathan Mayer Rothschild and Moses Montefiore which was subsequently paid off by the British taxpayers (ending in 2015). Bernal was associated with three different claims, he owned 564 slaves in Jamaica and received a £11,458 payment at the time (worth £1.37 million in 2024[8]).[9]

Bernal was president of the British Archaeological Association in 1853.[10] 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]

Personal life

In April 1806, he married Ann Elizabeth White.[11] Together, they were the parents of:

Bernal died on 26 August 1854.

References

  1. ^ a b c Davies, Helen (2004). "Bernal, Ralph (1783–1854)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2233. Retrieved 15 November 2010. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) available online to subscribers, and also in print
  2. ^ a b Rayment, Leigh. "Rochester (Kent)". House of Commons. Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "CRAWLEY m. BERNAL 1792". Curiousfox.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  5. ^ Members Constituencies Parliaments Surveys. "BERNAL, Ralph (1783-1854), of 11 Park Crescent, Mdx". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  6. ^ Rayment, Leigh. "Lincoln (Lincolnshire)". House of Commons. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ Rayment, Leigh. "Weymouth &Melcombe Regis (Dorset)". House of Commons. Archived from the original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ a b UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Ralph Bernal". University College London. Retrieved on 20 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Past Presidents". British Archaeological Association. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Joy-Lumsden-Kingston-6 - User Trees". genealogy.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  12. ^ Beales, Derek (2004). "Osborne, Ralph Bernal (1808?–1882)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2234. Retrieved 15 November 2010. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) Available online to subscribers, and also in print
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Lincoln
1818 – 1820
With: Coningsby Waldo-Sibthorpe 		Succeeded by
Preceded by 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 Hobhouse 1837–1841 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Weymouth & Melcombe Regis
1842 – 1847
With: William Dougal Christie 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Rochester
1847 – 1852
With: Thomas Twisden Hodges 		Succeeded by


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