Scroop Egerton, 1st Duke of Bridgewater facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Grace The Duke of Bridgewater
Born	11 August 1681
Died	11 January 1744(1744-01-11) (aged 62)
Alma mater	Whitgift School
Spouse(s)	Lady Elizabeth Churchill ​ ​ (m. 1703; died 1714)​ Lady Rachael Russell ​ ​ (m. 1722)​
Children	John Egerton, Viscount Brackley Anne Russell, Duchess of Bedford Louisa Leveson-Gower, Marchioness of Stafford Lady Caroline Egerton Charles Egerton, Marquess of Brackley John Egerton, 2nd Duke of Bridgewater Lord William Egerton Diana Calvert, Baroness Baltimore Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater
Parent(s)	John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater Lady Jane Paulet

Scroop Egerton, the 1st Duke of Bridgewater (born August 11, 1681 – died January 11, 1744), was an important English nobleman. He was known by different titles during his life. From 1687 to 1701, he was called Viscount Brackley. Then, from 1701 to 1720, he was known as the Earl of Bridgewater.

In 1720, he was given the special title of Duke of Bridgewater. This made him a very high-ranking member of the British nobility. He was part of the famous Egerton family.

Early Life and Education

The Egerton family coat of arms

Scroop Egerton was born on August 11, 1681. He was the third son of John Egerton, the 3rd Earl of Bridgewater. His mother was Lady Jane Paulet.

Scroop's grandparents on his mother's side were Charles Paulet, the 1st Duke of Bolton, and Mary Scrope. Scroop Egerton went to school at the Whitgift School in Croydon, England.

Public Service and Roles

Scroop Egerton was a member of the Whig political party. He held several important positions in the government and royal court.

He served twice as the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. This role meant he was the King's representative in that area.

• First, he served from 1702 to 1711, during the time of Queen Anne.
• Later, he served again from 1714 to 1728, during the reigns of King George I and King George II.

Scroop Egerton also worked directly for the royal family.

• He was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber and Master of the Horse for Prince George of Denmark.
• Later, he became the Lord Chamberlain for Caroline, Princess of Wales.
• After her husband became King George II, Scroop served him as a Lord of the Bedchamber.

In 1704, Scroop Egerton ordered the building of a new Town Hall in Brackley. It was finished in 1706. At that time, he was the lord of the manor (the main landowner) in Brackley.

Family Life

Elizabeth, Lady Egerton, painted around 1703

Lady Anne and John Egerton, Viscount Brackley, painted in 1716

Scroop Egerton was married twice and had many children.

First Marriage

On February 9, 1703, he married his first wife, Lady Elizabeth Churchill. She was the daughter of the famous John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Scroop and Elizabeth had two children:

• John Egerton, Viscount Brackley (born 1703 or 1704 – died 1718 or 1719). He passed away at age 14 while at Eton College.
• Lady Anne Egerton (died 1762). She married twice. Her first husband was Wriothesley Russell, the 3rd Duke of Bedford. Her second husband was William Villiers, the 3rd Earl of Jersey.

Lady Elizabeth died on March 22, 1714.

Second Marriage

About eight years later, on August 4, 1722, Scroop married his second wife, Lady Rachael Russell. She was the daughter of Wriothesley Russell, the 2nd Duke of Bedford. Scroop and Rachael had eight children:

• Lady Louisa Egerton (1723–1761). She married Granville Leveson-Gower, the 1st Marquess of Stafford.
• Lady Caroline Egerton (born 1724).
• Charles Egerton, Marquess of Brackley (1725–1731).
• John Egerton, 2nd Duke of Bridgewater (1727–1748).
• Lord William Egerton (1728–1729).
• Lord Thomas Egerton (1730–1730).
• Lady Diana Egerton (1731 or 1732 – 1758). She married Frederick Calvert, the 6th Baron Baltimore. They did not have children.
• Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater (1736–1803).

See also

• Egerton family
• Manchester Coalfield
• Peerage of Great Britain