Gerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford
Encyclopedia
Gerald Michael Orlando Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford, TD
, DL
, JP
(29 September 1911 – 30 August 1981), styled Viscount Newport between 1915 and 1957, was a British
peer and soldier.
and his wife Hon. Margaret Cecilia Bruce, eldest daughter of Henry Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare
. In 1957, he succeeded his father as earl. Bridgeman was educated at Harrow School
and went then to Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1932. In 1961, he received a Master of Arts
from Trinity College.
, Royal Armoured Corps
, part of the Territorial Army and fought in the Second World War
. He mentioned in despatches and was decorated with the Territorial Decoration
. On his retirement in 1962, he was granted the rank of a captain.
Elected in 1955, Bridgeman was president of the Country Landowners' Association for two years. In 1975, he received the Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners by the Royal Agricultural Society of England.
Bridgeman was Justice of the Peace
for Shropshire
from 1949 and became Deputy Lieutenant
of that county two years later. He was appointed Crown Estate Commissioner in 1956, a post he held until 1968. In 1970, he was nominated Vice Lord Lieutenant.
He owned land in Castle Bromwich
, Warwickshire
.
Bridgeman died in 1981 and was succeeded in his titles by his older son Richard
.
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(29 September 1911 – 30 August 1981), styled Viscount Newport between 1915 and 1957, 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...
peer and soldier.
Background
He was the only son of Orlando Bridgeman, 5th Earl of BradfordOrlando Bridgeman, 5th Earl of Bradford
Lieutenant-Colonel Orlando Bridgeman, 5th Earl of Bradford DL, JP , styled Viscount Newport from 1898 to 1915, was a British peer, Conservative politician and soldier...
and his wife Hon. Margaret Cecilia Bruce, eldest daughter of Henry Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare
Henry Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare
Henry Campbell Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare VD, DL, JP , styled The Honourable from 1873 to 1895, was a British soldier and peer.-Background:...
. In 1957, he succeeded his father as earl. Bridgeman was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and went then to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1932. In 1961, he received a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
from Trinity College.
Career
Bridgeman served in the Shropshire YeomanryShropshire Yeomanry
The Shropshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1795, which served as a cavalry and dismounted infantry regiment in the First World War and as a cavalry and an artillery regiment in the Second World War, before being amalgamated with the Shropshire Royal Horse...
, Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
, part of the Territorial Army and fought in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He mentioned in despatches and was decorated with the Territorial Decoration
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
. On his retirement in 1962, he was granted the rank of a captain.
Elected in 1955, Bridgeman was president of the Country Landowners' Association for two years. In 1975, he received the Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners by the Royal Agricultural Society of England.
Bridgeman was Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for 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...
from 1949 and became Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of that county two years later. He was appointed Crown Estate Commissioner in 1956, a post he held until 1968. In 1970, he was nominated Vice Lord Lieutenant.
He owned land in Castle Bromwich
Castle Bromwich
Castle Bromwich is a suburb situated within the northern part of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in the English county of West Midlands. It is bordered by the rest of the borough to the south east, North Warwickshire to the east and north east; also Shard End to the south west, Castle Vale,...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
.
Family
On 31 October 1946, he married Mary Willoughby Montgomery (died 1986), elder daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Hassard Montgomery (22 June 1872 - 19 February 1953) and Hester Frances Dames-Longworth (12 May 1894 - 1954). They had four children:- Richard Thomas Orlando Bridgeman, 7th Earl of BradfordRichard Bridgeman, 7th Earl of BradfordRichard Thomas Orlando Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford is a British peer.-Biography:Richard Bradford is the son of Gerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford and Mary Willoughby Montgomery. He was educated at St...
(born 3 October 1947) - Lady Serena Mary Bridgeman (1 July 1949 - 16 January 2001), married Richard Arnold Andrew (died 2000) (son of John Ramsay Andrew) on 27 April 1978 and divorced in 1989
- Lady Caroline Louise Bridgeman (born 18 April 1952), married Brian Martin Garnell (son of Henry Joseph Garnell) on 5 October 1974
- The Hon. Charles Gerald Orlando Bridgeman (born 25 June 1954), married Nicola Marie-Thérèse Sales (daughter of Brian Sales) on 17 January 1982 and had three children: James Edward Charles Orlando Bridgeman (born 22 March 1978), Robert Gerald Orlando Bridgeman (born 19 May 1983), and Nicholas Francis Orlando Bridgeman (born 2 June 1991)
Bridgeman died in 1981 and was succeeded in his titles by his older son Richard
Richard Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford
Richard Thomas Orlando Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford is a British peer.-Biography:Richard Bradford is the son of Gerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford and Mary Willoughby Montgomery. He was educated at St...
.