Duke of Manchester

Duke of Manchester is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain, and the current senior title of the House of Montagu. It was created in 1719 for the politician Charles Montagu, 4th Earl of Manchester.

Dukedom of Manchester
Quarterly, 1st & 4th: Argent, 3 fusils conjoined in fess gules, a bordure sable (Montagu); 2nd & 3rd: Or an eagle displayed vert beaked and membered gules (Monthermer).
Creation date	13 April 1719
Monarch	George I
Peerage	Peerage of Great Britain
First holder	Charles Montagu, 4th Earl of Manchester
Present holder	Alexander Montagu, 13th Duke
Subsidiary titles	Earl of Manchester Viscount Mandeville Baron Montagu of Kimbolton
Former seat(s)	Kimbolton Castle Tandragee Castle

Origin

Their ancestor was Richard Ladde, grandfather of the Lord Chief Justice Sir Edward, who changed his name to Montagu around 1447. His descendants claimed a connection with the older house of Montagu or Montacute, Barons Montagu or Montacute and Earls of Salisbury, but there is no sound evidence that the two families were related. A case has been made out for the possibility that the Ladde alias came from a division among coheirs about 1420 of the remaining small inheritance of a line of Montagus at Spratton and Little Creton, also in Northamptonshire.[1]

The judge Sir Edward Montagu's grandson, Edward Montagu, was raised to the peerage as 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton. He is the ancestor of the Dukes of Montagu. His brother, Sir Henry Montagu (c. 1563–1642), who served as Lord Chief Justice as well as Lord High Treasurer and Lord Privy Seal, was in 1620 raised to the Peerage of England as Viscount Mandeville, with the additional title Baron Montagu of Kimbolton, of Kimbolton in the County of Huntingdon. In 1626, he was made Earl of Manchester, of Manchester in the County of Lancaster.[2] It is said, erroneously, that the title referred not to the city of Manchester, but to Godmanchester in Huntingdonshire. The word "God" was deliberately excluded from the title, as Henry thought it would be blasphemous for him to be known as "Lord Godmanchester".[3]

His son, the 2nd Earl, was a prominent Parliamentary General during the Civil War, but later supported the restoration of Charles II. His son, the 3rd Earl, represented Huntingdonshire in the House of Commons. His son was the 4th Earl, who in 1719 was created Duke of Manchester.

Descent

Charles, 1st Duke of Manchester, was succeeded by his eldest son. The 2nd Duke notably served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard in the administration of Sir Robert Walpole. He was childless, and on his death, the titles passed to his younger brother, the 3rd Duke. He had earlier represented Huntingdonshire in Parliament. He was succeeded by his son, the 4th Duke. He was Ambassador to France and served as Lord Chamberlain of the Household. His son, the 5th Duke, was Governor of Jamaica between 1827 and 1830 also held office as Postmaster General. He was succeeded by his son, the 6th Duke. He represented Huntingdon in the House of Commons as a Tory.

His eldest son, the 7th Duke, was Conservative Member of Parliament for Bewdley and Huntingdonshire. His son, the 8th Duke, briefly represented Huntingdonshire in Parliament. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the 9th Duke. He sat on the Liberal benches in the House of Lords and served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard in the Liberal administration of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. In the twentieth century, mismanagement and profligacy resulted in the wholesale depletion of the Dukedom's estates. Generational instability caused further damage to the family's honour: both the 11th and 12th Dukes had a criminal record.[4]

Seats

Kimbolton Castle in 1880, the former seat of the Dukes of Manchester

The principal estate of the Dukes of Manchester was Kimbolton Castle. It was sold, together with 50 acres of parkland, by the 10th Duke in 1951, and is now a private school. A remaining 3,250 acres of the estate were sold by his eldest son and heir in 1975. The other family seat was Tandragee Castle, in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was sold in 1955, and the remaining estate in 1975, and is now the headquarters of Tayto (NI) Ltd.[4]

Arms

Coat of arms of the Duke of Manchester

Coronet A Coronet of a Duke Crest A Griffin's Head couped wings expanded Or Helm The helm of a Peer Escutcheon Quarterly, 1st & 4th: Argent, 3 fusils conjoined in fess gules (Montagu); 2nd & 3rd: Or an eagle displayed vert beaked and membered gules (Monthermer) Supporters Dexter: an heraldic Antelope Or armed tufted and hoofed Argent; Sinister: a Griffin Or Motto Disponendo Me, Non Mutando Me (By disposing of me, not by changing me) Symbolism The fusils (diamonds) in the Montagu arms were originally intended to represent a range of mountains, as the name comes from the old French mont agu meaning "pointed hill".[5][6] The arms represent a claim to be a cadet of the medieval Montagu (Montacute) family, Earls of Salisbury, for which there is no proof.

The arms of the Duke of Manchester have the following blazon: Quarterly, 1st & 4th: Argent, 3 fusils conjoined in fess gules (Montagu); 2nd & 3rd: Or an eagle displayed vert beaked and membered gules (Monthermer).[7] The fusils or diamond shapes in the Montagu arms were originally intended to represent a range of mountains,[8] as the name comes from the old French mont agu meaning "pointed hill".[9] The arms represent a claim to be a cadet of the medieval Montagu (Montacute) family, earls of Salisbury, for which there is no proof (see above origins).

Montagu arms unquartered of Barons Montagu/Montacute

Monthermar arms, "Or, an eagle displayed vert beaked and membered gules."

Arms of Montague/Montacute, Earls of Salisbury

Arms of Montagu, dukes of Manchester, dukes of Montagu, and earls of Sandwich and Halifax, claiming to be cadets of the medieval Montagus.

Arms of the Montagu family

Titles and styles

The Duke of Manchester holds the subsidiary titles Earl of Manchester, Viscount Mandeville, and Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

The Duke of Manchester is styled Your Grace (spoken style) or His Grace (reference style), alternatively Sir.

The heir apparent to the Dukedom takes the courtesy title Viscount Mandeville, and the heir apparent's heir apparent, when such exists, is styled Lord Kimbolton.[10]

Burial place

Many members of the Montagu family (Earls and Dukes of Manchester) are buried at St Andrew's Church, Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire (historically in Huntingdonshire). Several Montagu monuments still exist in the South Chapel, while the Montagu vault (extended in 1853) is located beneath the North Chapel.[11] The 12th Duke of Manchester was cremated at Bedford Crematorium in 2002.

Viscount Mandeville (1620)

Created by James I of England
#	Name	Life span	Period	Spouse	Notes	Other titles
1	Henry Montagu	c. 1563 – 1642	1620–1642	(1) Catherine Spencer (2) Anne Halliday, née Wincot (3) Margaret Crouch		Baron Montagu of Kimbolton

Earls of Manchester (1626)

Created by Charles I of England
#	Name	Life span	Period	Spouse	Notes	Other titles
1	Henry Montagu	c. 1563 – 1642	1626–1642	(1) Catherine Spencer (2) Anne Halliday, née Wincot (3) Margaret Crouch		Viscount Mandeville Baron Montagu of Kimbolton
2	Edward Montagu	1602–1671	1642–1671	(2) Lady Anne Rich	Son of the preceding
3	Robert Montagu	1634–1683	1671–1683	Anne Yelverton	Son of the preceding
4	Charles Montagu	c. 1662 – 1722	1683–1722	Dodington Greville	Son of the preceding

Dukes of Manchester (1719)

Sidney, 11th Duke of Manchester, and his wife, Andrea, Duchess of Manchester, by Allan Warren

Consuelo Montagu, Duchess of Manchester, wife of the 8th Duke. By John Singer Sargent.

Louise Montagu, wife of the 7th Duke

Created by George I of Great Britain
#	Name	Life span	Period	Spouse	Notes	Other titles
1	Charles Montagu	c. 1662 – 1722	1719–1722	Dodington Greville		Earl of Manchester, Viscount Mandeville, Baron Montagu of Kimbolton
2	William Montagu	1700–1739	1722–1739	Lady Isabella Montagu	Son of the preceding
3	Robert Montagu	1710–1762	1739–1762	Harriet Dunch	Brother of the preceding
4	George Montagu	1737–1788	1762–1788	Elizabeth Dashwood	Son of the preceding
5	William Montagu	1771–1843	1788–1843	Lady Susan Gordon	Son of the preceding
6	George Montagu	1799–1855	1843–1855	(1) Millicent Sparrow (2) Harriet Sydney Dobbs	Son of the preceding
7	William Montagu	1823–1890	1855–1890	Countess Louisa of Alten	Son of the preceding
8	George Montagu	1853–1892	1890–1892	Consuelo Yznaga	Son of the preceding
9	William Montagu	1877–1947	1892–1947	(1) Helena Zimmerman (2) Kathleen Dawes	Son of the preceding
10	Alexander Montagu	1902–1977	1947–1977	(1) Nell Vere Stead (2) Elizabeth Fullerton	Son of the preceding
11	Sidney Montagu	1929–1985	1977–1985	(1) Adrienne Valerie Christie (2) Andrea Joss	Son of the preceding
12	Angus Montagu	1938–2002	1985–2002	(1) Mary Eveleen McClure (2) Diane Pauline Plimsaul (3) Anne-Louise Taylor (4) Biba Jennians	Brother of the preceding
13	Alexander Montagu, presumed 13th Duke of Manchester[lower-alpha 1]	b. 1962	2002–present	(1) Marion Stoner (2) Wendy Dawn Buford (3) Laura Smith	Son of the preceding

1. The 13th Duke of Manchester has not proven succession to the Peerage, and does not appear on the Roll of the Peerage; hence he may not be legally recognised as a Peer in official documents.[12]

Family tree

See also: Family Tree: Earls and Dukes of Montagu

Montagu family tree: Viscounts Mandeville, Earls and Dukes of Manchester

Sir Edward Montagu, L.C.J. (c. 1485 – 1557) Sir Edward Montagu (c. 1530 – 1602) Barons Montagu of Boughton, 1621 Viscount Mandeville, 1620 Earl of Manchester, 1626 Earls of Sandwich Edward, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton (c. 1562 – 1644) Sir Henry Montagu 1st Viscount Mandeville 1st Earl of Manchester (c. 1563 – 1642) Earls of Halifax Edward, 2nd Baron Montagu of Boughton (1616–1684) Edward Montagu 2nd Earl of Manchester (1602–1671) Duke of Montagu, 1705 Ralph Montagu 1st Duke of Montagu (1638–1709) Robert Montagu 3rd Earl of Manchester (1634–1683) Duke of Manchester, 1719 John Montagu 2nd Duke of Montagu (1690–1749) Charles Edward Montagu 4th Earl of Manchester 1st Duke of Manchester (c. 1662–1722) Lady Isabella Montagu (d.1786) William Montagu 2nd Duke of Manchester (1700–1739) Robert Montagu 3rd Duke of Manchester (c.1710–1762) George Montagu 4th Duke of Manchester (1737–1788) George Montagu Viscount Mandeville (1763–1772) William Montagu 5th Duke of Manchester (1771–1843) George Montagu 6th Duke of Manchester (1799–1855) William Drogo Montagu 7th Duke of Manchester (1823–1890) George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke of Manchester (1853–1892) William Angus Drogo Montagu 9th Duke of Manchester (1877–1947) Alexander George Francis Drogo Montagu 10th Duke of Manchester (1902–1977) Sidney Arthur Robin George Drogo Montagu 11th Duke of Manchester (1929–1985) Angus Charles Drogo Montagu 12th Duke of Manchester (1938–2002) Alexander Charles David Drogo Montagu 13th Duke of Manchester (b. 1962)

References

1. Wagner, Anthony (1960). English Genealogy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780712667241. The explanation of a fifteenth century yeoman's Norman name might sometimes be female descent from a knightly house through a coheir. The Montagus of Boughton, Northhamptonshire, who acquired a barony in 1621, an earldom in 1689, the dukedom of Montagu in 1705, and in their younger branches the earldom of Manchester in 1626, the dukedom of Manchester in 1719, and the earldom of Sandwich in 1660, descended from Richard Montagu alias Ladde, a yeoman or husbandman, living in 1471 at Hanging Houghton, Northamptonshire, where the Laddes had been tenants since the fourteenth century. Alias names, in some respect the forerunners of modern compound (or double-barreled) name, were common in the Middle Ages. In the earliest times, when surnames were new, an alias may just mean indecision between equally attractive alternatives. Later they sometimes indicate bastardy (one name perhaps being the father's and one the mother's), but in most cases probably mark inheritance through an heiress whose name was thus perpetuated. A good case has been made out for the possibility that the Ladde alias came from a division among coheirs about 1420 of the remaining small inheritance of a line of Montagus at Spratton and Little Creton, also in Northamptonshire. This line was of knightly origin and probably a branch of the baronial Montagus (Earls of Salisbury from 1337), whose almost certain ancestor Dru de Montagud was a tenant-in-chief in 1086. Other yeoman Montagus are found in Buckinghamshire from 1354 when Roger Montagu appears as a witness to a quitclaim of land in Great Kimble, notably in Halton where a family of Montagu alias Elot held land from about 1440 to 1610. A line of Montagus found in Waddesdon from about 1540 may have branched from these. These in the eighteenth century were shepherds and drovers and one set up in Aylesbury as a wheelwright and another as a tailor. Another line, also possibly branched from Halton, is found at Boveney and Dorney in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This produced Richard Montagu, Bishop of Chichester (1628–38) and Norwich (1638–41), and Peter Montagu, who settled in Virginia.
2. Masters, Brian (2001). The Dukes: The Origins, Ennoblement and History of Twenty-Six Families. London: Random House. p. 336. ISBN 9780712667241.
3. Brooke, Christopher (1985). A History of Gonville and Caius College. Boydell & Brewer Ltd. p. 127. ISBN 9780851154237.
4. Scriven, Marcus (2009). Splendor and Squalor: The Disgrace And Disintegration of Three Aristocratic Dynasties. London: Atlantic Books. pp. 137–225. ISBN 9781843541240.
5. Boutell, Charles (1914). The Handbook to English Heraldry. London: Reeves & Turner. p. 16. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
6. "Last name: Montague". The Internet Surname Database. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
7. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, Montagu of Beaulieu (original form of), p.788
8. Boutell, Charles (1914). The Handbook to English Heraldry. London: Reeves & Turner. p. 16. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
9. "Last name: Montague". The Internet Surname Database. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
10. "Courtesy Titles". Cracroft's Peerage. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
11. Guided Tour of St Andrew's Church, Kimbolton, access date 27 July 2015
12. "Roll of the Peerage". College of Arms. Retrieved 23 January 2020. Under the terms of the Royal Warrant of 1 June 2004 any person who succeeds to a Peerage must prove his or her succession and be placed on the Roll, otherwise that person may not be legally recognised as a Peer in official documents.

Further reading

• Kidd, Charles, and Williamson, David (editors): Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage 1990 edition. New York, St Martin's Press, 1990,
• McNeill, Ronald John (1911). "Manchester, Earls and Dukes of" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 543–544.