Scroop Egerton, 1st Duke of Bridgewater (11 August 1681 – 11 January 1744), known as Viscount Brackley from 1687 to 1701 and as the Earl of Bridgewater from 1701 to 1720, was a British peer and courtier. Originally the 4th Earl of Bridgewater he was created Duke of Bridgewater in 1720 with the subsidiary title Marquess of Brackley.
He served as Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire twice, first from 1702 to 1711 and next from 1714 to 1728, as a Whig. He was employed in the household of Prince George of Denmark as Gentleman of the Bedchamber and Master of the Horse. He later served as Lord Chamberlain to Caroline of Ansbach, then Princess of Wales, and subsequently as Lord of the Bedchamber to her husband King George II.
There is evidence that he was educated at the Croydon School of John Whitgift.
He was the third son of John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater and his second wife Jane Paulet. His maternal grandparents were Charles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton and his second wife Mary Scrope. Mary was a natural daughter of Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland.
On 9 February 1703. Bridgewater married his first wife Lady Elizabeth Churchill. She was a daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. They had two children:
On 4 August 1722, Bridgewater married his second wife Lady Rachel Russell. She was a daughter of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford and his wife Elizabeth Howland. They had seven children:
| Court offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title | Lord Chamberlain to Caroline, Princess of Wales 1714 – 1717 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Grantham |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by The Viscount Newhaven |
Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire 1703 – 1711 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Kent |
| Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire 1714 – 1728 |
Succeeded by The Viscount Cobham |
|
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| New creation | Duke of Bridgewater 1720 – 1744 |
Succeeded by John Egerton |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by John Egerton |
Earl of Bridgewater 2nd creation 1701 – 1744 |
Succeeded by John Egerton |