Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar
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Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar was born on April 28, 1831 in Ruperra Castle, Glamorganshire. He was educated at Eton and joined the British Army in 1853.
When the Crimean War broke out in 1854, Godfrey Morgan held the rank of Captain in the 17th Lancers and he accompanied his famous regiment to the scene of the great struggle. He was in action at the Battle of Alma and later on the October 25, 1854 was in command of a section of the Light Brigade that rode into the 'Jaws of Death' at the Battle of Balaclava.
In later years, as other members of the Morgan family had been in the past, he became a benefactor to the people of Newport. Large tracts of land were donated to the Corporation for the benefit of the public, including Belle Vue Park, the Royal Gwent Hospital and Newport Athletics Grounds. This earned him the nickname of "Godfrey the Good" among local people.
Godfrey became a Viscount in 1905, and become the first Freeman of Newport in 1909.
Godfrey Morgan died on March 11, 1913[1] aged 82 and is buried at Bassaleg Parish Church.
A statue of Viscount Godfrey was unveiled in 1909 in Gorsedd Gardens, Cardiff. The sculptor was Sir William Goscombe John.[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Who's Who 1916, xxiv has the date as March 12.
- ^ Statue of Godfrey, First Viscount Tredegar
