A bearing defining an axial direction comprising: a bearing pad having a thrust face for supporting a vibration along an axial direction of the bearing; and a housing attached to or formed integrally with the bearing pad and defining: a working gas delivery system for providing a flow of pressurized working gas to the thrust face of the bearing pad; and a fluid damper cavity for providing a dampening of the axial vibration supported by the thrust face of the bearing pad along the axial direction, wherein the fluid damper cavity defined by the housing includes a first control volume, a second control volume, and a damper gap, and wherein the first control volume is in restrictive flow communication with the second control volume through the damper gap; wherein the fluid damper cavity is a sealed fluid damper cavity defining a fixed volume at constant temperatures and pressures; characterized in that the housing includes a rigid column, a first semi-rigid wall, a second semi-rigid wall, and a body portion, wherein the first semi-rigid wall and rigid column together define at least in part the first control volume and the second semi-rigid wall defines at least in part the second control volume, wherein the damper gap defines a small clearance, such that the damper gap resists a vibratory movement of the bearing pad along the axial direction. a bearing pad having a thrust face for supporting a vibration along an axial direction of the bearing; and a housing attached to or formed integrally with the bearing pad and defining: a working gas delivery system for providing a flow of pressurized working gas to the thrust face of the bearing pad; and a fluid damper cavity for providing a dampening of the axial vibration supported by the thrust face of the bearing pad along the axial direction, wherein the fluid damper cavity defined by the housing includes a first control volume, a second control volume, and a damper gap, and wherein the first control volume is in restrictive flow communication with the second control volume through the damper gap; wherein the fluid damper cavity is a sealed fluid damper cavity defining a fixed volume at constant temperatures and pressures; characterized in that the housing includes a rigid column, a first semi-rigid wall, a second semi-rigid wall, and a body portion, wherein the first semi-rigid wall and rigid column together define at least in part the first control volume and the second semi-rigid wall defines at least in part the second control volume, wherein the damper gap defines a small clearance, such that the damper gap resists a vibratory movement of the bearing pad along the axial direction. a working gas delivery system for providing a flow of pressurized working gas to the thrust face of the bearing pad; and a fluid damper cavity for providing a dampening of the axial vibration supported by the thrust face of the bearing pad along the axial direction, wherein the fluid damper cavity defined by the housing includes a first control volume, a second control volume, and a damper gap, and wherein the first control volume is in restrictive flow communication with the second control volume through the damper gap; wherein the fluid damper cavity is a sealed fluid damper cavity defining a fixed volume at constant temperatures and pressures; characterized in that the housing includes a rigid column, a first semi-rigid wall, a second semi-rigid wall, and a body portion, wherein the first semi-rigid wall and rigid column together define at least in part the first control volume and the second semi-rigid wall defines at least in part the second control volume, wherein the damper gap defines a small clearance, such that the damper gap resists a vibratory movement of the bearing pad along the axial direction.