Scroop Egerton, 1st Duke of Bridgewater (11 August 1681 – 11 January 1744), styled as Viscount Brackley from 1687 to 1701 and as the Earl of Bridgewater from 1701 to 1720, was a British courtier and landowner. Born into the Egerton family, he succeeded as Earl of Bridgewater in 1701, before being created Duke of Bridgewater on 18 June 1720, with subsidiary titles including Marquess of Brackley.
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Early life
Scroop Egerton was born on 11 August 1681, the third son of John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater, and his second wife, Lady Jane Paulet. His maternal grandparents were Charles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton, and his second wife, Mary Scrope, natural daughter of Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland. Egerton is recorded as being educated at the Whitgift School, Croydon.
Career
Bridgewater, a Whig, served twice as Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, first from 1702 to 1711 (during the reign of Queen Anne) and later again from 1714 to 1728 (the reigns of George I and George II).
Bridgewater first saw royal service when appointed to the household of Prince George of Denmark as Gentleman of the Bedchamber and Master of the Horse. Later, he served as Lord Chamberlain to Caroline, Princess of Wales, and subsequently as Lord of the Bedchamber to her husband, who had by then acceded to the throne as King George II.