rd chancellor; also a sketch of the lives of John Egerton, bishop of Durham, and of Francis Egerton, third duke of Bridgewater,” fol.
His health had been declining for many years, and though
he was neither so old nor so infirm as to look upon death
as a release, he lived as it he hourly expected it. He
died at his house in Grosvenor-square, London, on the
18th of January, 1787, and by his own express desire was
privately interred in St. James’s church, under the communion-table, near his father. By his wife, lady Sophia,
he had a daughter (the lady of sir Abraham Hume, bart.)
and two sons, John-William, who on the death of Francis,
third duke of Bridgwater, succeeded to the earldom, and
is now seventh earl of Bridgewater; and the hon. and rev.
Francis Egerton, prebendary of Durham, and rector of
Whitchurch, in Shropshire, to whom the last and present
articles are much indebted for his work entitled “A compilation of various authentic evidences and historical authorities, tending to illustrate the life and character of
Thomas Egerton, lord Ellesmere, viscount Brackley, lord
chancellor of England, Jfcc. and the nature of the times in
wjiich he was lord keeper and lord chancellor; also a sketch
of the lives of John Egerton, bishop of Durham, and of
Francis Egerton, third duke of Bridgewater,
” fol.
, third duke of Bridgewater, was born in 1736, and was the fifth son
, third duke of Bridgewater, was born in 1736, and was the fifth son of Scroop, the first duke of Bridgewater, by lady Rachel Russel: by the death of his brothers, he succeeded, on the demise of his brother John, second duke, in 1748, to the Lille and estates. Of those illustrious characters that have done honour to the British peerage, the duke of Bridgewater deserves to be placed in the first rank. That time and fortune which too many others have devoted to purposes, if not injurious to society, at least useless, his grace spent in pursuits that entitle him to be called the benefactor of his country.