Wednesday 18 October 2023

1st Duke of Montagu

DUKEDOM OF MONTAGU
1766-1790

WILLIAM DE BREDENHELL, a person of considerable note and extensive possessions in the reigns of HENRY III and EDWARD I, being seated at Doddington, held lands there, and at Adderbury and Bloxham, both in Oxfordshire, as also in Aynho and Sibbertoft, in Northamptonshire.

William de Bredenhell's descendant, 

SIR ROBERT BRUDENELL, Knight (1461-1531), an eminent lawyer, was constituted one of the judges of the King's Bench, removed to the Common Pleas, 1509, and made Chief of that court in 1520.

He married Margaret, daughter and co-heir of Thomas Entwistle, by whom he had two sons, the elder of whom,

SIR THOMAS BRUDENELL, Knight, resided at Deene Park, Northamptonshire, and espousing Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir William Fitzwilliam, of Malton, Northamptonshire, had issue,
Edmund;
THOMAS, his heir;
JOHN, succeeded his brother;
ROBERT, succeeded his brother.
Sir Thomas died in 1586, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

THOMAS BRUDENELL, who died in the same year, and was succeeded by his brother,

JOHN BRUDENELL, who died in 1606, also without issue, and was succeeded by his only surviving brother,

ROBERT BRUDENELL, who married, in 1570, Catherine, daughter and heir of Geoffrey Taylard, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS BRUDENELL (c1583-1663), who was created a baronet in 1611, designated of Deene, Northamptonshire.

Sir Thomas was elevated to the peerage, 1628, in the dignity of Baron Brudenell, of Stonton, Leicestershire.

His lordship was advanced to the dignity of an earldom, in 1661, as EARL OF CARDIGAN.

He wedded Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Tresham, of Rushton, Northamptonshire, and had three sons.

The 1st Earl was a zealous supporter of the royal cause during the civil wars, and suffered a long imprisonment in the Tower.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT, 2nd Earl (1607-1703), who espoused firstly, Mary, daughter of Henry, Viscount Dunbar, by whom he had an only daughter, MARY.

His lordship wedded secondly, Anne, daughter of Thomas, Viscount Savage, and had issue (with three daughters),
FRANCIS, father of GEORGE.
He was succeeded by his grandson,

GEORGE, 3rd Earl (1685-1732), who wedded Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Thomas, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury, and had issue,
GEORGE, his successor;
JAMES, successor to his brother;
Robert;
Thomas;
Frances; Mary.
His lordship, who, in the reign of QUEEN ANNE, was Master of the Buckhounds, was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE, 4th Earl, KG (1712-90), who espoused the Lady Mary Montagu, third daughter and co-heir of John, 2nd Duke of Montagu, and last of that creation; upon the decease of which nobleman, in 1749, his lordship assumed the surname and arms of MONTAGU, and in 1776, was advanced to a marquessate and dukedom, as Marquess of Monthermer and DUKE OF MONTAGU (2nd creation).

George, 1st Duke of Montagu KG

His Grace had issue,
JOHN (1735-70);
Elizabeth; Mary; Henrietta.
The 1st Duke was installed a Knight of the Garter, 1752, sworn of the Privy Council, 1776, and appointed Governor to Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Prince Frederick.

He was created, 1786, Baron Montagu of Boughton, with remainder to his grandson, James, second son of the Duke of Buccleuch.

His Grace died in 1790, when the Dukedom and Marquessate expired, the Barony of Montagu passed according to the limitation, and the Earldom of Cardigan devolved upon his next brother, JAMES, 5th Earl of Cardigan.

Former seat ~ Boughton House, Northamptonshire.
Former town residence ~ Montagu House, London.

First published in August, 2017.

1 comment :

Demetrius said...

James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, is not to be forgotten, if only for that business in The Crimea. He was colonel of the 15th Hussars, which became part of the 15/19 Hussars in 1922. Post war they were at Wesendorf until 1954 then going to Malaya. They were replaced by The Royals as recce regiment to the 7th Armoured Division.