BIOGRAPHY : William Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman

WILLIAM BRIDGEMAN

William Clive Bridgeman (1864-1935) was a British Conservative politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) and Cabinet minister.

Bridgeman was born in London, the son of a prominent judge and served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards during the Sudan campaign of 1884-1885. He later became a solicitor and was elected as the MP for Oswestry in 1906. In 1916, he was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions and held the position until 1919.

In 1922, Bridgeman was appointed as First Lord of the Admiralty, a position he held until 1924. He then served as the Secretary of State for War from 1924 to 1929 and as the Home Secretary from 1929 to 1930. He was also the President of the Board of Education from 1930 to 1931.

Bridgeman was known for his strong support of naval rearmament, which he considered necessary to meet the growing threat from Germany in the 1920s. He also supported the introduction of a National Insurance scheme to provide medical care for the working class.

Despite his long career in politics, Bridgeman was considered a moderate politician who did not play a major role in shaping government policy. Nevertheless, he was respected for his sound judgment and knowledge of government and was considered a competent administrator.

Bridgeman retired from politics in 1935 and died later that year at the age of 71. He was survived by his wife and children and was widely remembered as a dedicated public servant who had served his country with distinction.