# George Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford

George Cecil Orlando Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford JP DL (3 February 1845 – 2 January 1915), styled Viscount Newport from 1865 to 1898, was a British soldier, Conservative politician and peer. He was the grandfather of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.

## Early life and education

Bridgeman was born at his family home in Belgrave Square, London, the elder son of the 3rd Earl of Bradford and the Hon. Selina Louisa Forester. He was educated at Harrow School.

## Career

Bridgeman served in the 1st Life Guards and the Shropshire Yeomanry, reaching the rank of Captain. He succeeded his father in his titles on 9 March 1898.
Bridgeman was Member of Parliament (MP) for North Shropshire from 1867 to 1885. When the new seat of Newport, Shropshire was created out of that seat for the 1885 general election, he stood as the Conservative candidate for it but lost by a majority of 361 votes against the winning Liberal, Robert Bickersteth. He was Deputy Lieutenant of Warwickshire and Shropshire, as well as Justice of Peace for Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Shropshire.

## Marriage and issue

In 1869, Bridgeman married Lady Ida Annabella Frances Lumley, daughter of the Richard Lumley, 9th Earl of Scarbrough, and who was Lady of the Bedchamber for Mary of Teck. They had three sons and four daughters:
* Lady Beatrice Adine Bridgeman OBE (2 December 1870 – 27 June 1952), married in 1894 Col. Ernest George Pretyman
* Lady Margaret Alice Bridgeman (20 January 1872 - 7 August 1954), married in 1893 7th Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry; their daughter Lady Alice married Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
* Orlando Bridgeman, 5th Earl of Bradford (1873–1957), succeeded his father; married in 1904 Hon. Margaret Cecilia, eldest daughter of 2nd Baron Aberdare
* Lady Helena Mary Bridgeman OStJ (16 July 1875 – 27 August 1947), goddaughter of HRH Princess Christian; married in 1898 6th Earl of Sefton
* Lady Florence Sibell Bridgeman (24 March 1877 – 16 June 1936) married 1904 Ronald Collet Norman
* Cdr. Hon. Richard Orlando Beaconsfield Bridgeman DSO (28 February 1879 – 9 January 1917); Royal Navy, killed in East Africa during First World War
* Hon. Henry George Orlando Bridgeman DSO MC DL JP (15 August 1882 – 19 May 1972), married in 1930 Joan Constable-Maxwell, fourth daughter of Hon. Bernard Constable-Maxwell, son of William Constable-Maxwell, 10th Lord Herries
He died in London, and was buried in Weston Park, Staffordshire, on 6 January 1915.

## Family

On 7 September 1869, the then-Viscount Newport, married his second cousin once-removed, Lady Ida Lumley (28 November 1848 – 22 August 1936), daughter of Richard Lumley, 9th Earl of Scarbrough (7 May 1813 – 5 December 1884), and Frederica Mary Adeliza Drummond (16 December 1826 – 2 April 1907) in Maltby, Yorkshire. They had seven children:
* Lady Beatrice Adine Bridgeman (2 December 1870 – 27 June 1952), married on 28 June 1894 to Colonel Rt. Hon. Ernest George Pretyman (13 November 1859 – 26 November 1931) and had issue.
* Lady Margaret Alice Bridgeman (20 January 1872 – 7 August 1954), married John Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch, on 30 January 1893 and had issue, one such being Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.
* Orlando Bridgeman, 5th Earl of Bradford (6 October 1873 – 21 March 1957).
* Lady Helena Mary Bridgeman (16 July 1875 – 27 August 1947), married Osbert Molyneux, 6th Earl of Sefton, on 8 January 1898 and had issue.
* Lady Florence Sibell Bridgeman (24 March 1877 – 16 June 1936), married Ronald Collet Norman, son of Frederick Henry Norman, on 10 February 1904 and had issue.
* Commander The Hon. Richard Orlando Beaconsfield Bridgeman (28 February 1879 – 9 January 1917), who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and died in East Africa after the plane in which he was flying as observer, with Sqdn. Cdr. Edwin Rowland Moon as pilot, was forced to land with engine trouble. He was buried in Dar Es Salaam CWGC Cemetery.
* Lieutenant-Colonel The Hon. Henry Bridgeman (15 August 1882 – 19 May 1972), married on 30 December 1930 to Joan Constable-Maxwell (22 March 1901 – 1991) and had issue.
The Countess of Bradford was a Lady of the Bedchamber to the Princess of Wales (later Queen Mary) from 1901.