Francis Newport, 1st Earl of Bradford

Francis Newport, 1st Earl of Bradford PC (23 February 1620 – 19 September 1708), styled The Honourable between 1642 and 1651, was an English soldier, courtier and Whig politician.

Background Born at Wroxeter, he was the eldest son of Richard Newport, 1st Baron Newport and his wife Rachel Leveson, daughter of Sir John Leveson (circa 1555 – 1615) and sister of Sir Richard Leveson (1598–1661). In 1651, he succeeded his father as baron. Newport was educated at Christ Church, Oxford.

Career He represented Shrewsbury in both the Short Parliament and Long Parliament. A royalist during the English Civil War, he fought in 1644 in the Battle of Oswestry on the side of King Charles I of England and was then imprisoned. After the restoration in 1660, Newport became Custos Rotulorum of Shropshire, fulfilling this office for his lifetime. In the same year, he had been appointed also Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, but on the command of King James II of England was replaced by George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys in 1687. After Jeffrey's death and the Glorious Revolution in 1689, Newport was restored as Lord Lieutenant until 1704. Newport was also Cofferer of the Household from 1689 until the death of King William III of England in 1702.

In 1668, he was sworn of the Privy Council of England, but readmitted in 1689.

Family and death

On 28 April 1642, Newport married Lady Diana Russell, fourth daughter of Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford, at St Giles in the Fields, London, Diana Newport (1654 – 30 January 1731), who married Thomas Howard. Her daughter, also named Diana married Edward Ward, 8th Baron Dudley. Thomas Newport (1655 – 27 May 1719), 1st Barron Torrington. Anne Newport (16 November 1659), died young. Elizabeth Newport (2 June 1661 – 7 March 1724), who married firstly Edward Harvey, and secondly Sir Henry Lyttelton.

Newport died aged 88 in Twickenham.

He was buried in St Andrew's Church, Wroxeter, two weeks later and was succeeded in his titles by his oldest son Richard. His younger son Thomas was raised to the Peerage of England in his own right.