Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Sir Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman GCB
, GCVO
(7 December 1848 – 17 February 1929) was a British
sailor.
The son of Reverend William Bridgeman Simpson and Lady Frances Laura Wentworth FitzWilliam (herself daughter of the Earl Fitzwilliam
), and descendant of the 1st Baron Bradford
was Aide-de-Camp
to King Edward VII between 1901 and 1903. From 1907 to 1909, he was Commander-in-Chief
of the Home Fleet, from 1909 to 1911 he was Second Sea Lord
.
Bridgeman became First Sea Lord
in November 1911, and allegedly "got the job by default. From a thin list, Bridgeman had one unusual quality in the pre-1914 navy: a willingness to delegate. But he was also subject to ill-health and in barely a year this had provided the excuse for his replacement, in December 1912".
By October 1912 Bridgeman had clashed with First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill
on technical issues as well as matters relating to a perceived overriding of naval traditions by Churchill. Bridgeman, stating that Churchill's actions were denigrating the authority of senior officers and harming the efficiency of the service, threatened to take his case to Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and King George V
. Churchill acted on reports of personal correspondence to other officers from Bridgeman concerning attacks of appendicitis and bronchitis, and advised the First Sea Lord on 2 December that his resignation would be accepted. It was subsequently acknowledged, in response to questions in Parliament, that the initiative for resignation on grounds of health emanated from Churchill rather than from Bridgeman himself.
In the opinion of one historian
: "The combination of frequent change and weak appointees [Bridgeman, Wilson and Battenberg] ensured that the professional leadership of the Royal Navy lost its direction in the four years preceding the war." However, others have taken a more nuanced view of these men. Arthur Marder
wrote that while Bridgeman and Battenberg "were not especially forceful and allowed Churchill a good deal of rope", Bridgeman "did possess sound judgement and he might have made a moderately successful First Sea Lord had he served under anybody but Churchill." Indeed it was Bridgeman's efforts to blockade some of Churchill's more controversial schemes that led to his dismissal, as he himself recognized in a letter to Francis Hopwood
: "I was forced out without warning, but it was not because I was too weak, but because I was too strong!"
By 1922, Bridgeman had become Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
and held this post until 1929.
Invested as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
in 1911, and of the Order of the Bath
one year later, Bridgeman was also a Commander
of the French Legion of Honour (2nd class), and of the Greek Order of the Redeemer
.
On 6 November 1889, he married Emily Charlotte Shiffner, daughter of Thomas Shiffner. He died aged 80 without issue.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(7 December 1848 – 17 February 1929) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sailor.
Naval career
Earl FitzWilliam
Earl Fitzwilliam was a title in both the Peerage of Ireland and the Peerage of Great Britain held by the head of the Fitzwilliam family. This family claim descent from William the Conqueror. The Fitzwilliams acquired extensive holdings in South Yorkshire, largely through strategic alliances through...
), and descendant of the 1st Baron Bradford
Henry Bridgeman, 1st Baron Bradford
Henry Bridgeman, 1st Baron Bradford , known as Sir Henry Bridgeman, 5th Baronet between 1764 and 1794, was a British peer and politician.-Background and education:...
was Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to King Edward VII between 1901 and 1903. From 1907 to 1909, he was Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Home Fleet, from 1909 to 1911 he was Second Sea Lord
Second Sea Lord
The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command , commonly just known as the Second Sea Lord , is one of the most senior admirals of the British Royal Navy , and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments.-History:In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were...
.
Bridgeman became First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
in November 1911, and allegedly "got the job by default. From a thin list, Bridgeman had one unusual quality in the pre-1914 navy: a willingness to delegate. But he was also subject to ill-health and in barely a year this had provided the excuse for his replacement, in December 1912".
By October 1912 Bridgeman had clashed with First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
on technical issues as well as matters relating to a perceived overriding of naval traditions by Churchill. Bridgeman, stating that Churchill's actions were denigrating the authority of senior officers and harming the efficiency of the service, threatened to take his case to Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and King George V
George V
George V was king of the United Kingdom and its dominions from 1910 to 1936.George V or similar terms may also refer to:-People:* George V of Georgia * George V of Imereti * George V of Hanover...
. Churchill acted on reports of personal correspondence to other officers from Bridgeman concerning attacks of appendicitis and bronchitis, and advised the First Sea Lord on 2 December that his resignation would be accepted. It was subsequently acknowledged, in response to questions in Parliament, that the initiative for resignation on grounds of health emanated from Churchill rather than from Bridgeman himself.
In the opinion of one historian
Hew Strachan
Brigadier Professor Hew Francis Anthony Strachan, DL, FRSE, FRHS is a Scottish military historian, well known for his work on the administration of the British Army and the history of the First World War...
: "The combination of frequent change and weak appointees [Bridgeman, Wilson and Battenberg] ensured that the professional leadership of the Royal Navy lost its direction in the four years preceding the war." However, others have taken a more nuanced view of these men. Arthur Marder
Arthur Marder
Arthur Jacob Marder was a highly regarded American historian specializing in British naval history in the period 1880 - 1945.-Early life and education:...
wrote that while Bridgeman and Battenberg "were not especially forceful and allowed Churchill a good deal of rope", Bridgeman "did possess sound judgement and he might have made a moderately successful First Sea Lord had he served under anybody but Churchill." Indeed it was Bridgeman's efforts to blockade some of Churchill's more controversial schemes that led to his dismissal, as he himself recognized in a letter to Francis Hopwood
Francis Hopwood, 1st Baron Southborough
Francis John Stephens Hopwood, 1st Baron Southborough GCB GCMG GCVO KCSI PC was a British civil servant and solicitor....
: "I was forced out without warning, but it was not because I was too weak, but because I was too strong!"
By 1922, Bridgeman had become Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
The Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is an honorary office generally held by a senior Royal Navy admiral. Despite the title, the Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is usually a full admiral. He is the official deputy to the Lord High Admiral, an honorary office vested in the Sovereign from...
and held this post until 1929.
Invested as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1911, and of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
one year later, Bridgeman was also a Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of the French Legion of Honour (2nd class), and of the Greek Order of the Redeemer
Order of the Redeemer
The Order of the Redeemer , also known as the Order of the Savior, is an order of Greece. The Order of the Redeemer is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the modern Greek state.- History :...
.
On 6 November 1889, he married Emily Charlotte Shiffner, daughter of Thomas Shiffner. He died aged 80 without issue.