William Beresford

William Beresford (17 April 1797 – 6 October 1883) was a British Conservative politician. Beresford and Charles Newdegate served as the Conservative whips in the House of Commons after the party split over the Corn Laws. His relations with Benjamin Disraeli were strained, with Beresford often taking his cue from Lord Stanley in the Lords instead of the nominal leader in the commons. As Chief Whip he managed the 1852 general election, widely noted for its venality (even by the standards of the day), and was censured by the house for "reckless indifference to systematic bribery." Disraeli took the opportunity to remove Beresford, who was briefly succeeded as whip by William Forbes Mackenzie. Mackenzie, however, lost his seat for much the same reason, and was in turn succeeded by Sir William Joliffe. The management of elections Disraeli transferred to his solicitor, Philip Rose. [Blake, 322; 352.]

He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1852.

Notes

References

*wikicite | reference=Blake, Robert. "Disraeli". New York: St. Martin's Press, 1967.
*Rayment