John Egerton, 7th Earl of Bridgewater

John William Egerton, 7th Earl of Bridgewater FRS (14 April 1753 – 21 October 1823), known as John Egerton until 1803, was a British cavalry officer, and Tory politician from the Egerton family.

Egerton was the eldest son of the Right Reverend John Egerton, Bishop of Durham, and the grandson of the Right Reverend Henry Egerton, Bishop of Hereford, youngest son of John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater. His mother was Lady Anne Sophia Grey.

He joined the British Army in 1771 and was promoted to captain in 1776, to major in 1779, to lieutenant-colonel in 1790. He was promoted to colonel of 7th Light Dragoons in 1793. He was moved to be Colonel of 14th Light Dragoons serving under Major-general Craufurd during the Peninsular War to great acclaim. He remained colonel of the regiment for the rest of his life. Egerton was promoted to major-general in 1795, to lieutenant-general in 1802 and to full general in 1812.

Egerton also sat as a Tory Member of Parliament for Morpeth from 1777 to 1780 and for Brackley from 1780 to 1803. The latter year, on the death of his first cousin once removed, Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, he succeeded as seventh Earl of Bridgewater. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1808.

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