John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu 1690-1749

On 23rd December 1662 Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland [aged 18] and [his mother] Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Thomas Wriothesley 4th Earl of Southampton 2nd Earl Chichester [aged 55] and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Leigh Countess Southampton. He the son of Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland [aged 60] and Elizabeth Howard Countess Northumberland [aged 39]. They were third cousins.

In 1673 [his father] Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 34] and [his mother] Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 27] were married. She the wealthy daughter of [his grandfather] Thomas Wriothesley 4th Earl of Southampton 2nd Earl Chichester who had died six years previously. She the daughter of Thomas Wriothesley 4th Earl of Southampton 2nd Earl Chichester and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Leigh Countess Southampton. They were third cousin once removed.

In 1690 [his mother] Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 44] died.

In 1690 John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu was born to Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 51] and Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 44].

On 8th September 1692 [his father] Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 53] and [his step-mother] Elizabeth Cavendish Duchess of Albermarle and Montagu [aged 38] were married at Newcastle House. She the daughter of Henry Cavendish 2nd Duke Newcastle upon Tyne who had died the year before and the widow of Christopher Monck 2nd Duke Albemarle. She the daughter of Henry Cavendish 2nd Duke Newcastle upon Tyne and Frances Pierrepont Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 62].

In March 1698 Francis Godolphin 2nd Earl Godolphin [aged 19] and [his future sister-in-law] Henrietta Churchill 2nd Duchess of Marlborough [aged 16] were married. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough [aged 47] and [his future mother-in-law] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough [aged 37]. He the son of Sidney Godolphin 1st Earl Godolphin [aged 52] and Margaret Blagge.

Before 2nd December 1700 Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland [aged 25] and [his future sister-in-law] Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland [aged 17] were married. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough [aged 50] and [his future mother-in-law] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough [aged 40]. He the son of Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland [aged 59] and Anne Digby Countess Sunderland [aged 54].

On 9th February 1703 Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 21] and [his future sister-in-law] Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Countess Bridgewater. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough [aged 52] and [his future mother-in-law] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough [aged 42]. He the son of John Egerton 3rd Earl Bridgewater and Jane Paulet Countess Bridgewater [aged 47].

In 1705 John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 15] and Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough [aged 54] and Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough [aged 44]. He the son of Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 66] and Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland. They were third cousins.

Around 1706 [his daughter] Isabella Montagu Duchess Manchester was born to John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 16] and [his wife] Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 16]. She married 1. before 21st October 1739 her fourth cousin William Montagu 2nd Duke Manchester, son of Charles Montagu 1st Duke Manchester and Doddington Greville Duchess Manchester 2. 1743 Edward Hussey-Montagu 1st Earl Beaulieu.

In 1706 [his son] John Montagu was born to John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 16] and [his wife] Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 16]. He died aged five in 1711.

In 1707 Henry O'Brien 8th Earl Thomond [aged 18] and [his niece] Elizabeth Seymour Countess Thomond [aged 22] were married. She by marriage Countess Thomond. She the daughter of [his brother-in-law] Charles Seymour 6th Duke of Somerset [aged 44] and [his half-sister] Elizabeth Percy Duchess Somerset [aged 39]. He the son of Henry Horatio O'Brien and Henrietta Somerset Countess Suffolk [aged 38]. They were half fifth cousins.

On 9th March 1709 [his father] Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 70] died. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son John [aged 19] succeeded 2nd Duke Montagu, 4th Baron Montagu of Boughton in Northamptonshire. [his wife] Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 19] by marriage Duchess Montagu.

Around 1711 [his daughter] Mary Montagu Duchess of Montagu was born to John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 21] and [his wife] Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 21]. She married 7th July 1730 her fourth cousin once removed George Brudenell aka Montagu 1st Duke Montagu, son of George Brudenell 3rd Earl Cardigan and Elizabeth Bruce 3rd Countess Cardigan, and had issue.

In 1711 [his son] John Montagu [aged 5] died.

On 5th July 1715 [his nephew] Algernon Seymour 7th Duke of Somerset [aged 30] and Frances Thynne Duchess Somerset [aged 16] were married. He the son of [his brother-in-law] Charles Seymour 6th Duke of Somerset [aged 52] and [his half-sister] Elizabeth Percy Duchess Somerset [aged 48]. They were third cousin once removed.

In 1719 John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 29] was appointed 532nd Knight of the Garter by King George I [aged 58].

Before 1723 Godfrey Kneller [aged 76]. Portrait of John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 32].

On 4th February 1725 [his former brother-in-law] Charles Seymour 6th Duke of Somerset [aged 62] and Charlotte Finch Duchess Somerset [aged 32] were married. She by marriage Duchess Somerset. The difference in their ages was 30 years. She the daughter of Daniel Finch 2nd Earl Nottingham 7th Earl Winchilsea [aged 77] and Anne Hatton Countess Nottingham and Winchelsea.

On 27th December 1725 [his son] Edward Montagu was born to John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 35] and [his wife] Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 36]. He died aged one in 1727.

Vesta Monumenta. 1727. The ruins of Furness Abbey [Map] in Lancashire. Engraving by George Vertue [aged 43] after an untraced drawing originally commissioned by John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montague [aged 37].

In May 1727 [his son] Edward Montagu [aged 1] died.

On 7th July 1730 [his son-in-law] George Brudenell aka Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 17] and Mary Montagu Duchess of Montagu [aged 19] were married. She the daughter of John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 40] and Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 40]. He the son of George Brudenell 3rd Earl Cardigan [aged 44] and Elizabeth Bruce 3rd Countess Cardigan [aged 41]. They were fourth cousin once removed.

Around 1735 Gavin Hamilton [aged 12]. Portrait of John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 45] and [his wife] Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 45], and [his daughter] Mary Montagu Duchess of Montagu [aged 24].

Before 21st October 1739 [his son-in-law] William Montagu 2nd Duke Manchester [aged 39] and Isabella Montagu Duchess Manchester [aged 33] were married. She by marriage Duchess Manchester. She the daughter of John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 49] and Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 50]. He the son of Charles Montagu 1st Duke Manchester and Doddington Greville Duchess Manchester. They were fourth cousins.

Around 1740 George Knapton [aged 42]. Portrait of John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 50].

In 1743 [his son-in-law] Edward Hussey-Montagu 1st Earl Beaulieu [aged 22] and Isabella Montagu Duchess Manchester [aged 37] were married. She the daughter of John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 53] and Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 53].

On 6th July 1749 John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu [aged 59] died without surviving male issue. Duke Montagu extinct. His estates were inherited by his daughter Mary [aged 38] and her husband George Brudenell aka Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 36] who changed his name to Montagu from Brudenell. Monument in St Edmund's Church, Warkton [Map]. Sculpted by Louis Francois Roubiliac [aged 46]. Erected by his widow, Mary Churchill [aged 59], the daughter of the 1st Duke of Marlborough, who stands at the left hand side of the monument.

On 14th May 1751 [his former wife] Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 61] died. Monument in St Edmund's Church, Warkton [Map]. Sculpted by Louis Francois Roubiliac [aged 48]. Commissioned by her daughter, Lady Mary Montagu. The monument is adorned with figures representing the three fates of Clotho, Atropos and Lachesis, arranged to show the cutting of Mary's life thread, and Lachesis' dismay at it being cut short. Three putti also figure on the monument, one of whom holds the spindle from which the thread was cut.

Clotho: Clotho is one of the Three Fates. She spins the thread of human life.

Atropos: Atropos is one of the Three Fates. She cuts the thread of human life.

Lachesis: Lachesis is one of the Three Fates. She measures the thread of human life.

Adeline Horsey Recollections. The wicked Countess and her lover lived at Cliveden [Map] - "the bower of wanton Shrewsbury and of love" - and her spirit is supposed to haunt the beautiful riverside retreat, but I am thankful to say she has never appeared in the old home of her innocent girlhood. Her portrait by Sir Peter Lely hangs in the White Hall at Deene, and is a fine example of the artist's well-known very décolleté style of "robes loosely flowing, hair as free", with the usual mise en scène of a beauty of Charles II's time. The third Earl of Cardigan was Master of the Buckhounds to Queen Anne; he married a daughter of the Earl of Ailesbury, and their fourth son inherited the Ailesbury title and estates. Lord Cardigan's [his former son-in-law] eldest son married the [his daughter] heiress of the Duke of Montagu in 1766¹. He was a friend of Horace Walpole, the influence of whose pseudo-Gothic tastes may still be seen in the south front of Deene [Map], built at this time, and which now incorporates the great ball-room built for me by my dear husband.

Note 1. Married on 7th July 1730. He was created Duke in 1766.

[his son] George Montagu was born to John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu and Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu.