William Clive Bridgeman
Encyclopedia
William Clive Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman, PC
, JP, DL
(31 December 1864 – 14 August 1935) was a British Conservative
politician and peer. He notably served as Home Secretary
between 1922 and 1924.
, England
, the son of Reverend Hon. John Robert Orlando Bridgeman, third son of the 2nd Earl of Bradford
, and Marianne Caroline Clive. He was educated at Eton
and Trinity College, Cambridge
.
, the Colonial Secretary
(1889-1892), and then to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, the Chancellor of the Exchequer
from 1895 to 1897. In 1897 he became a member of the London School Board
, and in 1904 he was elected to the London County Council
. In 1906 he was elected as a Member of Parliament
(MP) for Oswestry
, staying in this seat until his retirement in 1929.
In 1911, Bridgeman became an opposition whip, and became a government whip in the Asquith coalition government in 1915. From 1915 to 1916, he was Lord of the Treasury
and Assistant Director of the War Trade Department. With the creation of Lloyd George's
coalition in 1916, Bridgeman became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour
until 1919, and then Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade
in 1919 and 1920, and then served as Secretary for Mines
from 1920 to 1922. In these roles, Bridgeman became a devoted opponent of strikes and socialism, although he came to admire more moderate trade unionists. He was appointed to the Privy Council
on 13 October 1920.
In October 1922, Bridgeman was one of the leaders of the Conservative revolt against the coalition's leadership, and he became Home Secretary
in the new Conservative governments of Andrew Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin
from 1922 until January 1924. He developed here a reputation for harshness and resolve, which continued in his time as First Lord of the Admiralty from November 1924 to June 1929. Throughout, he was one of Conservative leader Stanley Baldwin's closest allies. Bridgeman retired from the Commons in 1929, and that same year was created Viscount Bridgeman, of Leigh in the County of Shropshire
.
. He became Justice of Peace and Deputy Lieutenant
of Shropshire, and received an Honorary Doctor of Law
from the University of Cambridge
in 1930.
, daughter of Hon. Cecil Thomas Parker and Rosamond Esther Harriet Longley, daughter of the Most Rev. Charles Thomas Longley
, Archbishop of Canterbury
, in Eccleston
, Chester
, on 30 April 1895. They had four children:
Lord Bridgeman died in Leigh Manor, Shropshire, on 14 August 1935, aged 70, and was buried in Hope Minsterley three days later. The Viscountess Bridgeman died in December 1961.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, JP, 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....
(31 December 1864 – 14 August 1935) was a British Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and peer. He notably served as Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
between 1922 and 1924.
Background and education
Bridgeman was born 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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of Reverend Hon. John Robert Orlando Bridgeman, third son of the 2nd Earl of Bradford
George Bridgeman, 2nd Earl of Bradford
George Augustus Frederick Henry Bridgeman, 2nd Earl of Bradford was a British peer.The oldest son of the 1st Earl of Bradford and Lucy Elizabeth Byng, was educated at Harrow School, London, and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Master of Arts in 1810...
, and Marianne Caroline Clive. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and 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...
.
Political career
Bridgeman entered a career in politics early, becoming assistant private secretary to Lord KnutsfordHenry Holland, 1st Viscount Knutsford
Henry Thurstan Holland, 1st Viscount Knutsford GCMG, PC , known as Sir Henry Holland, Bt, from 1873 to 1888 and as The Lord Knutsford from 1888 to 1895, was a British Conservative politician, best known for serving as Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1887 to 1892.-Background and...
, the Colonial Secretary
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
(1889-1892), and then to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
from 1895 to 1897. In 1897 he became a member of the London School Board
London School Board
The School Board for London was an institution of local government and the first directly elected body covering the whole of London....
, and in 1904 he was elected to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
. In 1906 he was elected as a 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,...
(MP) for Oswestry
Oswestry (UK Parliament constituency)
Oswestry is a United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1983, when it was renamed North Shropshire...
, staying in this seat until his retirement in 1929.
In 1911, Bridgeman became an opposition whip, and became a government whip in the Asquith coalition government in 1915. From 1915 to 1916, he was Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
and Assistant Director of the War Trade Department. With the creation of Lloyd George's
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
coalition in 1916, Bridgeman became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour was a junior position within the British government, subordinate to the Minister of Labour. It was established in December 1916, at the same time as the Ministry of Labour...
until 1919, and then Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade in the United Kingdom was a member of Parliament assigned to assist the Board of Trade and its President with administration and liaison with Parliament. It replaced the Vice-President of the Board of Trade....
in 1919 and 1920, and then served as Secretary for Mines
Secretary for Mines
The position of Secretary for Mines is a now defunct office in the United Kingdom Government, associated with the Board of Trade. Responsibility for mines now lies with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry....
from 1920 to 1922. In these roles, Bridgeman became a devoted opponent of strikes and socialism, although he came to admire more moderate trade unionists. He was appointed to the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
on 13 October 1920.
In October 1922, Bridgeman was one of the leaders of the Conservative revolt against the coalition's leadership, and he became Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
in the new Conservative governments of Andrew Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
from 1922 until January 1924. He developed here a reputation for harshness and resolve, which continued in his time as First Lord of the Admiralty from November 1924 to June 1929. Throughout, he was one of Conservative leader Stanley Baldwin's closest allies. Bridgeman retired from the Commons in 1929, and that same year was created Viscount Bridgeman, of Leigh 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...
.
Later life
In his later years, he served as chairman of various commissions and committees, as well as, briefly, Chairman of the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. He became Justice of Peace and 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 Shropshire, and received an Honorary Doctor of Law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1930.
Family
Lord Bridgeman married Caroline Beatrix ParkerCaroline Bridgeman, Viscountess Bridgeman
Caroline Bridgeman, Viscountess Bridgeman DBE, JP was a British noble.Born Caroline Beatrix Parker to Hon...
, daughter of Hon. Cecil Thomas Parker and Rosamond Esther Harriet Longley, daughter of the Most Rev. Charles Thomas Longley
Charles Thomas Longley
Charles Thomas Longley was a bishop in the Church of England. He served as Bishop of Ripon, Bishop of Durham, Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1862 until his death.-Life:...
, Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, in Eccleston
Eccleston, Merseyside
Eccleston is a civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside, England. According to the 2001 Census it had a population of 10,528....
, Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, on 30 April 1895. They had four children:
- Robert Bridgeman, 2nd Viscount BridgemanRobert Bridgeman, 2nd Viscount BridgemanMajor-General Robert Clive Bridgeman, 2nd Viscount Bridgeman KBE, CB, DSO, MC, JP , styled The Honourable between 1929 and 1935, was a British peer and soldier.-Background:...
(1896–1982) - Brigadier Hon. Geoffrey BridgemanGeoffrey BridgemanBrigadier Hon. Geoffrey John Orlando Bridgeman MC , styled The Honourable from 1929, was a British soldier and ophthalmologist.-Background and education:...
(1898–1974) - Anne Bridgeman (1900–1900)
- Hon. Sir Maurice BridgemanMaurice BridgemanSir Maurice Richard Bridgeman KBE was a British businessman and civil servant.The third son of the 1st Viscount Bridgeman and Caroline Bridgeman, and younger brother of the 2nd Viscount, he was educated at Eton College, Berkshire and at Trinity College, Cambridge.In 1939, Bridgeman was petroleum...
(1904–1980)
Lord Bridgeman died in Leigh Manor, Shropshire, on 14 August 1935, aged 70, and was buried in Hope Minsterley three days later. The Viscountess Bridgeman died in December 1961.