The Right Honourable
The Earl of Halifax
PC KB
Auditor of the Exchequer
In office
1714–1739
MonarchGeorge II
Preceded byThe Earl of Halifax
Succeeded byThe Lord Walpole
Member of Parliament for Northampton
In office
1707–1715
Serving with Francis Arundell, William Wykes
Preceded byParliament of England
Succeeded byWilliam Wykes
William Wilmer
In office
1705–1707
Serving with Francis Arundell
Preceded bySir Matthew Dudley
Francis Arundell
Succeeded byParliament of Great Britain
Personal details
Born
George Montagu

1684
Died1739
Parent(s)Edward Montagu
Elizabeth Pelham
ResidenceHorton Hall
EducationEton College
Noteuncle also held Barony of Halifax which he inherited by special remainder, had been made first earl of the first creation in 1714.

George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax (also spelt George Montague) PC KB (c. 1684 – 9 May 1739), of Horton, Northamptonshire, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1705 to 1715 when he became a peer.

Early life

Montagu was the son of Edward Montagu of Horton and his wife Elizabeth Pelham, a daughter of Sir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet. He succeeded his father in 1690, and received the post then of Warden and chief forester of Salcey forest, Northamptonshire, which he held for the rest of his life.

He was educated at Eton College in 1698. From 1701 to 1704, he travelled abroad through Italy, Austria, Holland, Budapest, Belgrade and Constantinople.[1] He was a paternal great-grandson of Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester.

Career

Montagu was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for Northampton with the support of Christopher Montagu at the 1705 English general election. He was returned again at the 1708 British general election, the 1710 British general election and at the 1713 British general election. In 1714 he was appointed appointments Auditor of the Exchequer, which he held for the rest of his life.[1]

He was made a Privy Councillor on 27 November 1717, Lord Justice in 1720 and Keeper/Ranger of Bushy Park. He was appointed a Knight, Order of the Bath (K.B.) in 1725.[1]

Residences

Horton House 1935, as extended, and just before demolition
Bushy House from an 1827 book illustration
Extract from Gentleman's Magazine: Map of London & Environs, 1764 noting his son's ownership of various lodges in and adjoining Bushy Park, Hampton and Teddington, Middlesex

His family's seat was Horton House, Horton, Northamptonshire which was demolished in 1936.

As Ranger of Bushy Park, Halifax had built (1714–1715) and sometimes inhabited 'Upper Lodge' or 'New Lodge', today a function building of the National Physical Laboratory, on the north-west side of the park in its Teddington part. This was in the first two years of the reign of George II just as he acceded to his titles. The property passed to his son, followed by Lord North, his eldest daughter's son.[2]

Peerage

George's uncle, Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, a childless widower, ensured his titles would pass to George (being the eldest son of his eldest brother), and gave him most of his estate. George succeeded his uncle as second Baron Halifax under its special remainder.[3]

A few weeks after succeeding, George was created Earl of Halifax and Viscount Sunbury, reviving the other titles which had been created the previous year for his uncle. Two years later he was sworn of Privy Council.[1]

Personal life

Montagu was twice married. On 8 April 1706, he married Ricarda Posthuma Saltonstall (c. 1689–1711). Before her death in 1711, they were the parents of one daughter:

On about 28 June 1712, Montagu married Lady Mary Lumley (1690–1726), a daughter of Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarborough.[4] Together they had at least seven children, including:

George Montagu died in 1739 and was succeeded in the titles by his son George.

Descendants

Through his eldest child Lucy, he was a grandfather of Frederick North, Lord North, who served as the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "MONTAGU, George (c.1684-1739), of Horton, Northants". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  2. ^ 'Hampton Court Palace, parks', in A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 2 (London, 1911), pp. 386-388. British History Online, Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  3. ^ Society, Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological (1917). Papers and Proceedings. p. 297. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  4. ^ Dalton, Charles (1880). History of the Wrays of Glentworth. Chapman and Hall, Limited. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  5. ^ Cole, William (1931). The Blecheley Diary of the Rev. William Cole, 1765-67. Constable. p. 202. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  6. ^ Piozzi, Hester Lynch (1951). 1784-1809. Clarendon Press. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  7. ^ Rizzo, Betty (1 September 2008). Companions Without Vows: Relationships Among Eighteenth-Century British Women. University of Georgia Press. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-8203-3218-5. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
Parliament of England Preceded bySir Matthew DudleyFrancis Arundell Member of Parliament for Northampton 1705–1707 With: Francis Arundell Succeeded byParliament of Great Britain Parliament of Great Britain Preceded byParliament of England Member of Parliament for Northampton 1707–1715 With: Francis Arundell 1707–10William Wykes 1710–15 Succeeded byWilliam WykesWilliam Wilmer Political offices Preceded byThe Earl of Halifax Auditor of the Exchequer 1714–1739 Succeeded byThe Lord Walpole Peerage of Great Britain New creation Earl of Halifax 3rd creation1715–1739 Succeeded byGeorge Montagu Peerage of England Preceded byCharles Montagu Baron Halifax 1715–1739 Succeeded byGeorge Montagu
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