Henry Bridgeman, 1st Baron Bradford
Encyclopedia
Henry Bridgeman, 1st Baron Bradford (7 September 1725 – 5 June 1800), known as Sir Henry Bridgeman, 5th Baronet between 1764 and 1794, was a British
peer and politician.
. His mother Anne was the daughter of Richard Newport, 2nd Earl of Bradford
. He was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge
, where he graduated with a Master of Arts in 1747. On the death of his uncle Thomas Newport, 4th Earl of Bradford
in 1762 Bridgeman inherited Weston Park
and two years later he succeeded his father as baronet. Cambridge awarded him a Doctor of Laws in 1769 and the University of Oxford
made him a Doctor of Civil Laws in 1793.
, having been elected for Ludlow
. He represented the constituency for twenty years until 1768 and sat then for (Much) Wenlock
for another twentysix years. Bridgeman retired as Member of Parliament
in 1794 and was elevated the Peerage of Great Britain
with the title Baron Bradford, of Bradford, in the County of Shropshire
on 13 August. He was nominated clerk of the household to George, Prince of Wales
, a post he held until the latter's accession in 1760. A year later he was chosen clerk comptroller of the Board of Green Cloth
, serving for the following three years. In 1774 Bridgeman became recorder for Much Wenlock
, an appointment for life.
in 1800 and his two oldest sons having predeceased him was succeeded in his titles by his third son Orlando
, later raised to an earl. His fourth son John
took over his seat in Parliament and assumed the surname Simpson. Bridgeman was survived by his widow until 1806; she died in Bath, Somerset and was buried in Weston.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
peer and politician.
Background and education
Bridgeman was the second and eldest surviving son of Sir Orlando Bridgeman, 4th BaronetSir Orlando Bridgeman, 4th Baronet
Sir Orlando Bridgeman, 4th Baronet was a British baronet and politician.Born in Blodwell in Shropshire, he was the oldest son of Sir John Bridgeman, 3rd Baronet and his wife Ursula, daughter of Roger Matthews. Bridgeman was educated at New College, Oxford and in 1713, he was called to the bar by...
. His mother Anne was the daughter of Richard Newport, 2nd Earl of Bradford
Richard Newport, 2nd Earl of Bradford
Richard Newport, 2nd Earl of Bradford PC , styled The Honourable from 1651 to 1694 and subsequently Viscount Newport until 1708, was an English peer and Whig politician.-Background:...
. He was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
, where he graduated with a Master of Arts in 1747. On the death of his uncle Thomas Newport, 4th Earl of Bradford
Thomas Newport, 4th Earl of Bradford
Thomas Newport, 4th Earl of Bradford , styled The Honourable from 1708 to 1734, was an English peer and noble....
in 1762 Bridgeman inherited Weston Park
Weston Park
Weston Park is a country house in Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire, England, set in more than of park landscaped by Capability Brown. The park is located north-west of Wolverhampton, and north-east of Telford, close to the border with Shropshire...
and two years later he succeeded his father as baronet. Cambridge awarded him a Doctor of Laws in 1769 and the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
made him a Doctor of Civil Laws in 1793.
Career
In 1748, Bridgeman entered the British House of CommonsHouse of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
, having been elected for Ludlow
Ludlow (UK Parliament constituency)
Ludlow is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
. He represented the constituency for twenty years until 1768 and sat then for (Much) Wenlock
(Much) Wenlock (UK Parliament constituency)
Wenlock was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.It was founded in 1468 as borough constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800,...
for another twentysix years. Bridgeman retired as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in 1794 and was elevated the Peerage of Great Britain
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
with the title Baron Bradford, of Bradford, in the County of Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
on 13 August. He was nominated clerk of the household to George, Prince of Wales
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, a post he held until the latter's accession in 1760. A year later he was chosen clerk comptroller of the Board of Green Cloth
Board of Green Cloth
The Board of Green Cloth was a board of officials belonging to the Royal Household of England and Great Britain. It took its name from the tablecloth of green baize that covered the table at which its members sat....
, serving for the following three years. In 1774 Bridgeman became recorder for Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock, earlier known as Wenlock, is a small town in central Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford...
, an appointment for life.
Family
Bridgeman married Elizabeth Simpson, daughter of Reverend John Simpson on 12 July 1755; they had eight children, five sons and three daughters. He died, aged 74, in Old Burlington Street in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1800 and his two oldest sons having predeceased him was succeeded in his titles by his third son Orlando
Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Earl of Bradford
Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Earl of Bradford was a British peer and politician.The oldest son of the 1st Baron Bradford and Elizabeth Simpson, he was educated at Harrow School, London and at Trinity College, Cambridge. From 1784 to 1800, he was Member of Parliament for Wigan. Bridgeman succeeded to...
, later raised to an earl. His fourth son John
John Simpson (MP)
John Simpson of Babworth Hall, Nottinghamshire was born John Bridgeman, a younger son of Sir Henry Bridgeman, later 1st Baron Bridgeman...
took over his seat in Parliament and assumed the surname Simpson. Bridgeman was survived by his widow until 1806; she died in Bath, Somerset and was buried in Weston.