The son of Thomas Charles Bigge, he was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford (Master of Arts 1795). Bigge served as High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1802, a position previously held by his grandfather William Bigge, in 1750, and his father in 1771.
He then studied law, under Charles Abbott, served in the militia, and undertook a continental tour from 1800.
Ridley became a business partner. He was Lieutenant Colonel in the Northumberland Supplementary Militia. On the death of his father in 1794, Bigge inherited estates at Benton House, Little Benton, Newcastle on Tyne, Heddon on the Wall, Ponteland and Gosforth.
And collieries at Little Benton and Willington.
In 1812 he built Linden Hall, Longhorsley, Northumberland to a design by Sir Charles Monck on land bought from the Earl of Carlisle. In politics, Bigge was a Whig leader in Northumberland, associated with Charles Grey.
He was offered a baronetcy in 1839, which he declined. The eldest son, Charles John, married Lewis Marianne, daughter of Prideaux John Selby.
The fourth son, Edward Thomas, became Archdeacon of Lindisfarne.
The seventh son, Arthur, was a barrister. The Bank was successful during Bigge"s lifetime. But was later beset with financial difficulties as a result of which it closed in 1857.
While he was a potential candidate as Member of Parliament, he ruled himself out on grounds of cost, and never stood.
