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Frederic Morgan, 5th Baron Tredegar

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The Right Honourable
The Lord Tredegar
Bt, JP
Morgan, photographed by Kate Pragnell, 1898.
Born22 November 1873
Ruperra Castle
Died21 August 1954 (aged 80)
London
Title5th Baron Tredegar, 7th Baronet
SpouseDorothy Bassett (m. 1898; div. 1920)
ChildrenJohn Morgan, 6th Baron Tredegar, Syssyllt Gurney
Parents
RelativesCharles Morgan, 1st Baron Tredegar, (grandfather)

Frederic George Morgan, 5th Baron Tredegar (22 November 1873 — 21 August 1954), styled the Honourable Frederic Morgan between 1913 and 1949, was a Welsh peer and landowner. On 27 April 1949, he succeeded to the title of 5th Baron Tredegar, 7th Baronet, following the death of his nephew, Evan Morgan, 2nd Viscount Tredegar. Heavy estate taxation in the 1940s forced Morgan to renounce his inheritance, in an attempt to protect the longevity of the Morgan estates.

Ancestry

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Main article: Baron Tredegar

The Morgans claimed descent from Welsh princes, and were among the most powerful families in South Wales, their fortunes having been established by William Morgan, who was a politician, and acquired substantial landholdings throughout Monmouthshire, Glamorganshire and Breconshire.[1][2] His descendants continued the family's political and social ascent; Charles Morgan becoming a baronet in 1792,[3] and another Charles becoming 1st Baron Tredegar in 1859.[4] His second son, Godfrey Morgan fought in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War[5][6] and was made 1st Viscount Tredegar in 1905.[7] Never marrying, Godfrey was in turn succeeded by his nephew Courtenay Morgan, and the Tredegar viscountcy was revived in his favour in 1926.[8] Evan Morgan succeeded his father in 1934. Evan, homosexual despite two marriages, had no children and his heir was his uncle, Frederic.[9]

Early life

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Frederic George Morgan was born at Ruperra Castle on 22 November 1873 to Colonel Frederic Courtenay Morgan and Charlotte Anne Williamson.[10] Following family tradition, he was educated at Eton College, and later studied at Oxford University.[11] Although he never lived at Tredegar House (even during his time as Lord Tredegar), Morgan spent much of his youth there as his uncle was Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar, and his brother was Courtenay Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar.[12]

Morgan was a keen angler and hunter, who kept various Fishing Books and Game Books throughout his life; many of which are now held by The National Library of Wales, having been donated by the executors of his daughter, Syssyllt Avis Gurney, following her death in 1963.[a][14] In 1909, Morgan became Justice of The Peace for Breacon and Radnor, and latterly was on the supplementary list of magistrates.[11][12] In 1913, Morgan gained the rank of honourable by royal decree following his brother, Courtenay's, succession to the barony of Tredegar.[15]

Marriage

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On 14 April 1898, Morgan married Dorothy Syssyllt Bassett (1879-1929) in the Parish church of Llanblethian.[11] Dorothy wore a diamond necklace gifted to her by Frederic's uncle, Godfrey, who was Lord Tredegar at the time.[16] Those in attendance included Lord and Lady Aberdare, the Viscountess Hereford (Morgan's aunt), and the Earl and Countess of Dunraven.[17]

Frederic and Dorothy made their residence Boughrood Castle in Radnor,[18] where they had two children:[b]

At Boughrood, Frederic and Dorothy frequently hosted the Boughrood Flower Show, and became involved in the community,[19] with Frederic overseeing the breeding and selling livestock on the home-farm; often winning competitions with his animals.[20]

In November 1919, Dorothy began an affair with Ralph Kirby, a Second Lieutenant in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, while he was stationed in Pembrokeshire. As a result, Frederic filed for divorce against her in March 1920, on the grounds of “frequent adultery” and took custody of their two children.[21] Dorothy married Ralph in the same year, leaving Frederic lonely and isolated for the remainder of his life. In his autobiography, The Bonus of Laughter, Alan Pryce-Jones attributes Morgan’s misery to the “disappearance and indeed misconduct of his wife”.[22]

Following the sale of Boughrood Castle in 1921, Morgan spent the rest of his life living in various Mayfair flats.[11][23][24]

Later life

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In 1937, a compulsory purchase order was applied to houses 208-238 Pantbach road, Rhiwbina, which Morgan co-owned with the Earl of Carrick and the Hon. Simon Rodney, with the intention of demolition to "widen and improve" Pantbach road. All three men were trustees of the Tredegar Settled Estates.[25]

Inheritance

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Tredegar House, which Morgan inherited in 1949.

Frederic's nephew, Evan Morgan, died without issue on 27 April 1949, leaving Frederic as the soul heir to the Tredegar titles and estates. Neither Frederic, nor his son John, enjoyed good relations with Evan; this disharmony saw them unable to reach agreement regarding inheritance tax planning, with Evan refusing to transfer any of the estates to John.[26] As a result, Frederic succeeded to the Welsh estates, the barony, and the baronetcy with an inheritance tax bill of £1,000,000.[26][c] In 1949, during an interview with the Yorkshire Observer, Frederic described himself as "an arthiritus cripple", asserting "I cannot expect to live very long".[28] It was on this basis that Morgan made arrangements for the estate to pass immediately to John, while retaining the titles. This ensured that on Frederic's death, John would inherit the family estates without liability of tax.[9]

My reading of the position is that if I had inherited the estates, another 80% would go in duties in the event of my own death, leaving very little to carry on the estates. It is difficult to give exact figures. It makes me think that I could sit down and cry when I consider what has got to happen. There will have to be staff cuts and some of our tenants may be displaced if we have to sell farms. None of this need happen if we had not got a government of hungry wolves to whom we are just vermin.[29]

— Lord Tredegar, 1949.

It was allegedly Frederic's ambition to join his son at Tredegar House; living "on a modest scale in view of the prevailing conditions".[12] Despite this, Tredegar House was sold in 1951, and John Morgan's liquidation of the remaining Welsh estates, and death without issue in 1962, resulted in the end of the Morgans of Tredegar; a social and political dynasty that had ruled South Wales for 500 years.[26]

Death

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Having been in ill-health for sometime, Frederic Morgan succumbed to osteoarthritis, and died on 21 August 1954 at his London home, 42 Upper Brook Street. Following his death, an article in the Western Mail stated that Morgan "will be remembered as a keen sportsman, who always had tenants interests at heart. His interests in those who attached themselves to the Tredegar family never diminished".[12] On 25 August 1954, Morgan had a requiem mass, held at The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Mayfair, conducted by Father Maurice O’Leary, with his interment being held at the Roman Catholic cemetery, St Pancras.[30] The Edinburgh Evening News reported that Morgan left gross estates of £6488,[d] having transferred his entire inheritance to his son.[31]

In 1960, Morgan's butler, Thomas Cronin, gave an interview to The People; speaking extensively about Frederic. Cronin described him as "an exceedingly lonely man... who never exchanged a sentence with me unless it was absolutely necessary". Cronin stated that in Frederic's later years, he sustained his interest in horse-racing by betting large wagers on races. An extract reads, "a winning day would lead to an evening decorated with smiles; failure would mean a bout of gloom at dinner". Morgan followed a strict schedule, leaving his flat at 10 a.m for Boodle's Club, staying for lunch, before starting for the local graveyard gardens, where he would sit "pending the receipt of news as to the success or failure of his wagers". During the interview, Cronin recalled when Morgan spoke, "Cronin - I think I am dying". In his surprise, Cronin responded, "very good, my Lord".[32]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ The National Library of Wales also holds the extensive Tredegar Estate records which were deposited by the 6th baron, and gifted to the library after his death.[13]
  2. ^ Both children were born without titles or courtesy pre-nominals. On the succession of their father to the Barony of Tredegar in 1949, both became entitled to use the courtesy title "the Honourable", or simply "the Hon.", as children of a baron. See courtesy titles in the United Kingdom for further reading.
  3. ^ £1,000,000 in 1949 equates to approximately £44,627,000 in 2023, according to calculations based on the Consumer Price Index measure of inflation.[27]
  4. ^ £6488 in 1954 equates to approximately £224,000 in 2023, according to calculations based on the Consumer Price Index measure of inflation.[27]

References

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  1. ^ "William Morgan, c.1640-1680, of Tredegar, Machen, Monmouthshire". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Morgan Family of Tredegar Park, Monmouthshire". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  3. ^ "No. 13471". The London Gazette. 27 October 1792. p. 813.
  4. ^ "No. 22248". The London Gazette. 12 April 1859. p. 1482.
  5. ^ "The Charge of the Light Brigade, the Battle of Balaclava, 25th October 1854 with Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar (1831 - 1913) astride his Horse, 'Sir Briggs' – Item NT1553541". National Trust. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Sir Briggs, horse of Lord Tredegar, 17th Lancers, ridden at Balaklava, 1854, in camp in the Crimea, 1854". National Army Museum. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  7. ^ "No. 27871". The London Gazette. 5 January 1906. p. 107.
  8. ^ "No. 33190". The London Gazette. 10 August 1926. p. 5288.
  9. ^ a b "Three Sir Charles Morgans, Six Lords Tredegar and Three Viscounts". Newport Past. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  10. ^ Burnand, Francis (1952) [1908]. The Catholic Who's who & Yearbook. Vol. 35. Burns & Oates. p. 447.
  11. ^ a b c d "Tredegar, 5th Baron, (Frederic George Morgan) (22 Nov. 1873 – 21 Aug. 1954)". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d "5th Lord Tredegar Dies In 81st Year". Western Mail & South Wales News. 23 August 1954. p. 7. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Tredegar Estate records". National Library of Wales. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Fishing book of Sir Frederic George Morgan, 5th baron Tredegar". National Library of Wales. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Royal Grant To The Tredegar Family". Western Mail & South Wales News. 12 July 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Morgan-Bassett". The Queen: The Lady's Newspaper. 30 April 1898. p. 757. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Mr Frederic Morgan to Miss Dorothy Bassett". The Gentlewoman. 23 April 1898. p. 555. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Bath & County Notes". Bath Chronicle & Weekly Gazette. 14 May 1921. p. 22. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Boughrood Flower Show". Brecon County Times. 2 July 1914. p. 1. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  20. ^ "Talgarth Agricultural Show". Brecon County Times. 22 September 1921. p. 3. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  21. ^ Divorce application: petitioner, Frederic George Morgan; respondent, Dorothy Sysyllt Morgan; co-respondent, Ralph W. Kirby. Date: 10-03-1920
  22. ^ Pryce-Jones, Alan (1987). The Bonus of Laughter. Faber & Faber. ISBN 978-0571296187.
  23. ^ "Lord Tredegar Leaves £2,369,685". Western Mail & South Wales News. 29 June 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Lord Tredegar's Niece Weds". Western Mail & South Wales News. 12 July 1926. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Legal Notices". Western Mail & South Wales News. 27 October 1937. p. 2. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  26. ^ a b c Povey, Tomos (4 November 2017). "The last Lord of Tredegar, who avoided paying millions and sold Tredegar House". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  27. ^ a b Clark 2023.
  28. ^ "Baron Renounces Inheritance". The Yorkshire Observer. 23 August 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  29. ^ Cross, William (30 October 2014). Viscount Tredegar: The Final Affairs. 58 Sutton Road, Newport, United Kingdom: Book Midden Publishing. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-905914-24-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  30. ^ "Requiem Mass For Peer". Western Mail & South Wales News. 26 August 1954. p. 7. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Turned Down Fortune, Left £6488". Edinburgh Evening News. 15 November 1954. p. 5. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  32. ^ Cronin, Thomas (16 October 1960). "His Lordship Was A Perfect Gentleman". The People. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 31 July 2024.

Sources

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Books

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Website

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Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Baron Tredegar
1949-1954 		Succeeded by
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