William, Marquess of Berkeley

William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley (1426 – 14 February 1492) was an English peer, given the epithet "The Waste-All" by the family biographer and steward John Smyth of Nibley. He was buried at "St. Augustine's Friars, London" according to one source, but most likely in the Berkeley family foundation of St Augustine's Abbey, Bristol.

William of Berkley was born to James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley and Lady Isabel Mowbray at Berkeley Castle in Berkeley, England in 1426. His first marriage was in 1466 to Elizabeth West, daughter of Reginald West, 6th Baron De La Warr, but he obtained a divorce on 20 November 1467. In November 1468, he married Joan Strangeways, daughter of Sir Thomas Strangeways and Lady Katherine Neville. After the death of his second wife, he married Anne Fiennes, sister of Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre, in circa 1486.

William was invested as a Knight circa 1438. William assumed the title of Baron Berkeley by writ after the death of his father James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley on 22 October 1463.

He was invested as a Knight Bachelor on 18 April 1475. He was styled as Viscount of Catherlough (now known as County Carlow, Ireland) between 1481 and 10 February 1485.

Williams was created Viscount Berkeley on 21 April 1481, as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) on 5 March 1482/83, and as Earl of Nottingham on 28 June 1483. He assumed the life office of Earl Marshal and Great Marshal of England on 19 February 1485/86. Finally, he was created Marquess of Berkeley on 28 January 1488/89.

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