Frederic Morgan, 5th Baron Tredegar

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.

Early life and ancestry

Frederic George Morgan was born at Ruperra Castle on 22 November 1873 to Colonel Frederic Courtenay Morgan and Charlotte Anne Williamson. Following family tradition, he was educated at Eton College, and later studied at Oxford Brookes University. Although he never lived at Tredegar House (even during his time as Lord Tredegar), Morgan spent much of his youth there as the tenure of the property was held consecutively by his uncle, Godfrey, and later by his brother, Courtenay.

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. His descendants continued the family's political and social ascent; Charles Morgan becoming a baronet in 1792, and another Charles becoming 1st Baron Tredegar in 1859. His second son, Godfrey Morgan fought in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War and was made 1st Viscount Tredegar in 1905. Never marrying, Godfrey was in turn succeeded by his nephew Courtenay Morgan, and the Tredegar viscountcy was revived in his favour in 1926. Evan Morgan succeeded his father in 1934. Evan, homosexual despite two marriages, had no children and his heir was his uncle, Frederic.

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. In 1909, Morgan became Justice of The Peace for Breacon and Radnor, and latterly was on the supplementary list of magistrates. In 1913, Morgan gained the rank of honourable by royal decree following his brother, Courtenay's, succession to the barony of Tredegar.

Marriage

On 14 April 1898, Morgan married Dorothy Syssyllt Bassett (1879-1929) in the Parish church of Llanblethian. Dorothy was the daughter of Ralph Bassett (1850-1903), a justice of the peace, Deputy Lieutenant, and High Sheriff of Glamorgan, claiming descent the early Norman Bassets. The bride wore a diamond necklace gifted to her by Morgan's uncle, Godfrey, who was Lord Tredegar at the time. Those in attendance included Lord and Lady Aberdare, the Viscountess Hereford (Morgan's aunt), and the Earl and Countess of Dunraven.

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

* The Hon. Syssyllt Avis Morgan, (1903-1963), married Peter Hugh Gurney (m. 1926; div. 1934). Died without issue.
* Frederic Charles John Morgan, 6th Baron Tredegar, (1908-1962), married Joanna Russell in 1954. Died without issue.
At Boughrood, Frederic and Dorothy frequently hosted the Boughrood Flower Show, and became involved in the community, with Frederic overseeing the breeding and selling livestock on the home-farm; often winning competitions with his animals.

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. Dorothy married Ralph in the following year, leaving Frederic miserable 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”. Although Frederic was alone in his final years, Pryce-Jones also references him having an elderly mistress, Miss Bassett-Boot, in the 1920s, of whom Frederic's daughter, Syssyllt, was particularly fond.

Having lost additional income from his wife's mineral-rich landholdings in South Wales, Morgan left Boughrood Castle in 1921, and with the exception of a brief stint in Scotland, spent the remainder of his life in various Mayfair flats.

Later life

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.

Inheritance

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. As a result, Frederic succeeded to the Welsh estates, the barony, and the baronetcy with an inheritance tax bill of £1,000,000. In 1949, during an interview with the ''Yorkshire Observer'', Frederic described himself as "an arthiritus cripple", asserting "I cannot expect to live very long". 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.

It was Frederic's son's ambition for his father to join him son at Tredegar House, living "on a modest scale in view of the prevailing conditions". 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.

Death

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". 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. The ''Edinburgh Evening News'' reported that Morgan left gross estates of £6488, having transferred his entire inheritance to his son.

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 10am 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". Surprised at such a rare moment of conversation, Cronin responded, "very good, my Lord".

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1873 births
1954 deaths
People educated at Eton College
Welsh justices of the peace