Quick Facts
Biography
Scroop Egerton, 1st Duke of Bridgewater (11 August 1681 – 11 January 1744), known as Viscount Brackley from 1687 to 1701 and as the Earl of Bridgewater from 1701 to 1720, was a British peer, courtier and pioneering landowner.
Born of the Egerton family, he succeeded as 4th Earl of Bridgewater in 1701, before being created Duke of Bridgewater on 18 June 1720, with subsidiary titles including Marquess of Brackley.
Early life
Scroop Egerton was born on 11 August 1681, the third son of John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater and his second wife Lady Jane Paulet. His maternal grandparents were Charles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton and his second wife Mary Scrope, natural daughter of Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland.
Scroop Egerton is recorded as being educated at the Whitgift School, Croydon.
Career
Bridgwater served twice as Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, first from 1702 to 1711 and next from 1714 to 1728, being a Whig. He was first appointed to the household of Prince George as Gentleman of the Bedchamber and Master of the Horse. He later served as Lord Chamberlain to Caroline, Princess of Wales, and subsequently as Lord of the Bedchamber to her husband as King George II.
Family life
On 9 February 1703, Bridgewater married his first wife Lady Elizabeth, daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough; they had two children:
- John Egerton, Viscount Brackley (b. 1703/4, d. 1718/9)
- Lady Anne Egerton (d. 1762), married first Wriothesley Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford and, secondly William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey.
On 4 August 1722, Bridgewater married his second wife Lady Rachel, daughter of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, by his wife Elizabeth née Howland; they had seven children:
- Lady Louisa Egerton (30 April 1723 –14 March 1761), married Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford.
- Lady Caroline Egerton (b. 21 May 1724).
- Charles Egerton, Marquess of Brackley (27 July 1725 –2 May 1731).
- John Egerton, 2nd Duke of Bridgewater (29 April 1727 –26 February 1748).
- Lord William Egerton (15 January 1728 –10 February 1729).
- Lady Diana Egerton (3 March 1731/2 –13 August 1758), who married Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore on 9 March 1753. The union was not a success, and the couple spent most of their married life apart. They had no children, and in May 1756 they were formally separated, due to an "incompatibility of temper". In 1758, Lady Diana "died from a hurt she received by a fall out of a Phaethon carriage", while accompanied by her husband. Although Lord Baltimore was suspected of foul play, no charges were ever brought.
- Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater (21 May 1736 –8 March 1803).
- Walpole, Horace, p.278, A Catalogue of the Royal and Noble Authors of England, Scotland, and Ireland: with Lists of Their Works:, Vol 5. Retrieved 24 Jan 2010.
- ^ www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org Retrieved August 2012
- http://www.debretts.com: Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage (2015)