Charles Rodney Morgan : 1828-1854
The heir apparent of Tredegar House, Newport
A New Book
By William Cross, FSA Scot
Charles Rodney Morgan ( 1828-1854) was the first born son of the wealthy Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan and Rosamond Mundy later Lord and Lady Tredegar of Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales.
A foppish, romantic figure, described as “diminutive and of delicate features” he was a popular huntsman and heir to the Morgan family titles. In 1849 his coming of age was marked with wide spread celebrations in Newport and surrounds, huge bonfires were lit for miles around. He had everything to live for and become the next Sir Charles Morgan, a landowner of thousands of acres and numerous property interests.
Educated at Eton, Charles saw service as an officer in the Coldstream Guards, later he was elected Member of Parliament for Brecon. Then scandal and tragedy struck. Charles had a taste for the bohemian life and chose bad company in the underbelly of London Society. At the age of just 25 he died in Marseilles, France in 1854 after contracting a debilitating disease.
Charles’ brother Godfrey was at his sibling’s bed side to offer hope and comfort. It was soon afterwards that Godfrey famously went out to the Crimea to fight for his Queen and country and return a hero of Balaclava, and the Morgan heir.
This is a touching story of ‘what might have been’ of how Charles Morgan’s first choice of a wife was dismissed by his parents, how he fell under the spell of a French woman, who bore him a son, slipped fast into debauchery and under pressure from creditors and his angry parents fled in disgrace abroad.
ISBN 13 978-1-905914-50-0
Published by William P. Cross Book Midden Publishing
58 Sutton Road Newport Gwent, NP19 7JF, United Kingdom
Publication Date : 2023 or later
Enquiries : Please e-mail William Cross, FSA Scot
williecross@aol.com
