Name Godfrey 1st Role British Politician | Died March 11, 1913 Education Eton College | |
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Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar (28 April 1831 – 11 March 1913) was a British Army officer and British politician.
Tredegar was born on 28 April 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, Tredegar held the rank of Captain at the age of 22 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 25 October 1854 was in command of a section of the Light Brigade that rode into the 'Valley of Death' at the Battle of Balaclava, he survived. Godfrey's horse, 'Sir Briggs', also survived, and lived at Tredegar House until his death at the age of 28. He was buried in the Cedar Garden at Tredegar House (though not with full military honours as is frequently believed). The monument still stands there today.
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. He served as High Sheriff of Monmouthshire for 1858. In May 1902 he bought the lordships of the manor of Newport and Caerleon from the Duke of Beaufort, including the right to appoint a member of the Newport Harbour Commission. Tredegar succeeded his father as 2nd Baron Tredegar in 1875. He was made a Viscount in 1905, and become the first Freeman of Newport in 1909.
Tredegar died on 11 March 1913 aged 81 and is buried at Bassaleg Parish Church. He never married and on his death the estate passed to a relation.
A statue of The Viscount Tredegar was unveiled in 1909 in Gorsedd Gardens, Cathays Park, Cardiff. The sculptor was Sir William Goscombe John.