Ralph Bernal (2 October 1783[1] or 1784[2] – 26 August 1854) was a British Whig barrister, politician, and art collector who served as Member of Parliament (MP) four times in various constituencies between 1818 and 1852. He also served as Chairman of Ways and Means, the senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons from 1831 to 1841 and again from 1847 to 1852. Bernal is sometimes referred to as The Elder Bernal to distinguish him from his son, Ralph Bernal Osborne, who was also an MP.
Ralph Bernal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Chairman of Ways and Means | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1847 – 1 July 1852 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Speaker | Arthur Onslow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Thomas Greene | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | The Lord Winmarleigh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 27 June 1831 – 23 June 1841 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Speaker | Arthur Onslow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Sir Alexander Grant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Thomas Greene | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Constituency | Lincoln | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 2 October 1783 or 1784 London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 26 August 1854 (aged 69–70) London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Whig | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouses | Ann White
(m. 1806; died 1823)Clara White (m. 1824) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2, including Ralph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents |
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| Christ's College, Cambridge (BA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profession |
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Early life
editRalph Bernal was born on 2 October 1783 or 1784 in London as the youngest of two children born to Jacob Israel Bernal Jr., a merchant, (1750–1811) and Leah Bernal (née da Silva; 1750–1820).[3] Both of Bernal's parents were raied aa Sephardic Jews but later distanced themselves from it and aligned more with the Church of England by the time of Bernal's birth. Thus, he was baptised into the Church at St Olave's Church in Hart Street.[4]
Through both of his parents, Bernal was of Iberian descent. However, he was more Portuguese leaning from his mother's side, while he was more Spanish leaning from his father's side.
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
editHe was Member of Parliament (MP) for Lincoln 1818–20[5] 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.[6]
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 £1.54 billion in 2025[7]) 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 £1.18 million in 2025[7]).[8]
Bernal was president of the British Archaeological Association in 1853.[9] 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
editIn April 1806, he married Ann Elizabeth White.[10] Together, they were the parents of:
- Ralph Bernal (1808–1882), a politician, who took on the surname Osborne on marrying Catherine Isabella Osborne, the daughter of Sir Thomas Osborne, 9th Baronet.[11]
Bernal died on 26 August 1854.
References
edit- 1 2 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, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.) available online to subscribers, and also in print
- 1 2 Rayment, Leigh. "Rochester (Kent)". House of Commons. Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
- ↑ "CRAWLEY m. BERNAL 1792". Curiousfox.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ↑ Members Constituencies Parliaments Surveys. "BERNAL, Ralph (1783-1854), of 11 Park Crescent, Mdx". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ↑ Rayment, Leigh. "Lincoln (Lincolnshire)". House of Commons. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
- ↑ Rayment, Leigh. "Weymouth &Melcombe Regis (Dorset)". House of Commons. Archived from the original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
- 1 2 UK Consumer Price Index inflation figures from 1209–2024 based on data from "Inflation calculator". Bank of England. London. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ "Ralph Bernal". University College London. Retrieved on 20 March 2019.
- ↑ "Past Presidents". British Archaeological Association. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ↑ "Joy-Lumsden-Kingston-6 - User Trees". genealogy.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ↑ 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, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.) Available online to subscribers, and also in print
External links
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