Background
Ridley was the son and heir of Sir Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley and the Honorary Mary Georgiana Marjoribanks (1850 – 14 March 1909), daughter of Dudley Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth.
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
Ridley was the son and heir of Sir Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley and the Honorary Mary Georgiana Marjoribanks (1850 – 14 March 1909), daughter of Dudley Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth.
He was educated at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford, where he graduated as Bachelor in 1897, taking Honors in Greats.
His political career was most noted for his support of Tariff Reform. While in parliament he also served as parliamentary private secretary to the Home Secretary, Charles Ritchie from 1900 to 1902, and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Austen Chamberlain from 1902 to 1904. On 21 May 1901, he was appointed a Doctor of Laws of the County of Northumberland, and in 1904 a Justice of the Peace. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Northumberland Hussars in 1897, was promoted Captain on 12 April 1902, then Major in 1904, becoming Lieutenant Colonel in command in 1913.
He was in command of the regiment in the early months of the First World War but did not go abroad and relinquished command in 1915, remaining on the Territorial Force reserve of officers.
He was also honorary Colonel of the 5th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers from 1910. The Viscountess Ridley was invested as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1918, and died 2 December 1947.
They had three children:
Gwladys Marjorie Ridley (b 17 September 1900 - d 1983)
Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Viscount Ridley (b 16 December 1902 - d 1964)
Vivien Catherine Evelyn Ridley (b 15 December 1906 - d 19??), married Hans Karg von Bebenburg, 1934
Ridley suddenly fell ill at his home at Blagdon Hall on 28 January 1916 and required a "severe operation." The Times reported Lord Ridley had been "in indifferent health since his last grave illness three or four years ago, when an operation was also necessary," but did not offer specifics. Ridley had entertained Field Marshall John French at Blagdon two days before his illness and was scheduled to go to France with the Northumberland Hussars.
He underwent a second operation on 13 February and died the following day in hospital, aged 41.
27th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Stalybridge at the 1900 general election.