Captain Lennox Berkeley, 7th Earl of Berkeley

All families have a black sheep, some can rustle up a whole flock. In a recorded history stretching back to the Anglo-Saxons, the Berkeleys of Berkeley Castle have fielded more than their fair share of cads. One was involved in the murder of Edward II, another sparked a war with America, a third falsified the records to try to prove his children were legitimate, and two gave the castle away to spite their next of kin. One of the family’s most colourful scoundrels was Captain Lennox Berkeley, the 7th earl. Wife-stealer, Bashi-Bazouk and Redshirt, chronic gambler and zither-player, he died a bankrupt and outlaw, leaving three sons, only one of whom was legitimate. The eldest, Hastings, became a captain in the Royal Navy (and father of Sir Lennox), the second, Ernest, was a British Consul, and the third, Randal – the only legitimate son – inherited the earldom, the castle and a vast fortune. On Randal’s death without issue the title fell into dormancy, and the castle was willed to distant cousins.

Tony Scotland, author of a biography of the composer (Lennox & Freda, Michael Russell Publishing, 2010), has pieced together the few remaining records to tell the story of the Berkeleys’ most elusive black sheep. The book also includes the first published pedigree of the composer’s family, drawn up by Tony Scotland, designed by Michael Mitchell, and approved by Patric Dickinson, Clarenceux King of Arms, and a life member of the Society.