Biography of Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu 1638-1709

After 1633 and before 24th December 1638 [his father] Edward Montagu 2nd Baron Montagu [aged 16] and [his mother] Anne Winwood [aged 18] were married.

On 24th December 1638 Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu was born to Edward Montagu 2nd Baron Montagu [aged 22] and Anne Winwood [aged 23].

In or after 1639 [his mother] Anne Winwood [deceased] died.

On 15th June 1644 [his grandfather] Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu [aged 81] died at the Savoy Hospital. His son [his father] Edward [aged 27] succeeded 2nd Baron Montagu of Boughton in Northamptonshire.

After 18th June 1660 Jane Needham [aged 15] was courted by many. She, allegedly, had only two lovers: Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 21] and Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 18].

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 18th January 1662. Thence to the Wardrobe, and there hearing it would be late before they went to dinner, I went and spent some time in Paul's Churchyard among some books, and then returned thither, and there dined with my Lady and Sir H. Wright [aged 25] and his lady, all glad of yesterday's mistake, and after dinner to the office, and then home and wrote letters by the post to my father, and by and by comes Mr. Moore to give me an account how Mr. Montagu [aged 27] was gone away of a sudden with the fleet, in such haste that he hath left behind some servants, and many things of consequence; and among others, my Lord's commission for Embassador. Whereupon he and I took coach, and to White Hall to my Lord's lodgings, to have spoke with Mr. Ralph Montagu [aged 23], his brother (and here we staid talking with Sarah and the old man); but by and by hearing that he was in Covent Garden [Map], we went thither: and at my Lady Harvy's [aged 23], his sister, I spoke with him, and he tells me that the commission is not left behind. And so I went thence by the same coach (setting down Mr. Moore) home, and after having wrote a letter to my Lord at 12 o'clock at night by post I went to bed.

On 23rd December 1662 Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland [aged 18] and [his future wife] Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland. She the daughter of Thomas Wriothesley 4th Earl of Southampton 2nd Earl Chichester [aged 55] and 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.

On 30th December 1669 Christopher Monck 2nd Duke Albemarle [aged 16] and [his future wife] Elizabeth "Mad Duchess" Cavendish Duchess Albermarle Duchess of Montagu [aged 15] were married at Whitehall Palace [Map]. She the daughter of Henry Cavendish 2nd Duke Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 39] and [his future mother-in-law] Frances Pierrepont Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 39]. He the son of George Monck 1st Duke Albemarle [aged 61] and Anne Clarges Duchess Albermarle [aged 50].

On 3rd January 1670 George Monck 1st Duke Albemarle [aged 61] died. His son Christopher [aged 16] succeeded 2nd Duke Albemarle, 2nd Earl Torrington in Devon. [his future wife] Elizabeth "Mad Duchess" Cavendish Duchess Albermarle Duchess of Montagu [aged 15] by marriage Duchess Albemarle.

In March 1672 Antonio Verrio [aged 36] travelled to England on the recommendation of Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 33].

In 1673 Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 34] and Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 27] were married. She the wealthy daughter of 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 Elizabeth Leigh Countess Southampton. They were third cousin once removed.

John Evelyn's Diary. 11th May 1676. I dined with Mr. Charleton, and went to see Mr. Montague's [aged 37] new palace, near Bloomsbury, built by Mr. Hooke [aged 40], of our Society, after the French manner.

On 27th March 1679 Henry Cavendish [aged 20] and [his step-daughter] Elizabeth Percy Duchess Somerset [aged 12] were married. She being the sole heiress of Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland she brought an enormous fortune to the marriage. She the daughter of Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland and [his wife] Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 33]. He the son of Henry Cavendish 2nd Duke Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 48] and [his future mother-in-law] Frances Pierrepont Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 48].

On 15th November 1681 Thomas "Tom of Ten Thousand" Thynne [aged 33] and [his step-daughter] Elizabeth Percy Duchess Somerset [aged 14] were married. She the daughter of Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland and [his wife] Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 35].

On 30th May 1682 Charles Seymour 6th Duke of Somerset [aged 19] and [his step-daughter] Elizabeth Percy Duchess Somerset [aged 15] were married. His first marriage, her third having been widowed twice by the age of seventeen. She by marriage Duchess Somerset. Being the sole heiress of her father Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland she brought considerable wealth to the marriage. She the daughter of Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland and [his wife] Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 36]. They were fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 29th October 1682 Baptist Noel 3rd Viscount Campden [aged 71] died. His son Edward [aged 41] succeeded 4th Viscount Campden, 4th Baron Hicks of Ilmington in Warwickshire. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Gainsborough [aged 36] by marriage Viscountess Campden. He was buried at Church of St Peter and St Paul, Exton, Rutlandshire [Map].

A huge monument in black and white marble, with a tall base on which stand obelisks, on balls capped by two black urns and a large open pediment. Within, are the Viscount and his fourth wife Elizabeth Bertie Viscountess Campden [aged 42] in effigy and various low reliefs, depicting his previous wives and nineteen children, in Roman dress, completed by Grinling Gibbons [aged 34].

Elizabeth Bertie Viscountess Campden: In 1640 she was born to Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey and Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness. On 6th July 1655 Baptist Noel 3rd Viscount Campden and she were married. She by marriage Viscountess Campden. The difference in their ages was 29 years. She the daughter of Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey and Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness. They were second cousin twice removed. In 1683 Elizabeth Bertie Viscountess Campden died.

On 1st December 1682 Edward Noel 1st Earl Gainsborough [aged 41] was created 1st Earl Gainsborough. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Gainsborough [aged 36] by marriage Countess Gainsborough.

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th October 1683. Visited the Duchess of Grafton [aged 15], not yet brought to bed, and dining with my Lord Chamberlain (her father) [aged 65], went with them to see Montague House, a palace lately built by Lord Montague [aged 44], who had married the most beautiful [his future wife] Countess of Northumberland [aged 29]. It is a stately and ample palace. Signor Verrio's [aged 47] fresco paintings, especially the funeral pile of Dido, on the staircase, the labors of Hercules, fight with the Centaurs, his effeminacy with Dejanira, and Apotheosis or reception among the gods, on the walls and roof of the great room above,-I think exceeds anything he has yet done, both for design, coloring, and exuberance of invention, comparable to the greatest of the old masters, or what they so celebrate at Rome. In the rest of the chamber are some excellent paintings of Holbein, and other masters. The garden is large, and in good air, but the fronts of the house not answerable to the inside. The court at entry, and wings for offices seem too near the street, and that so very narrow and meanly built, that the corridor is not in proportion to the rest, to hide the court from being overlooked by neighbours; all which might have been prevented, had they placed the house further into the ground, of which there was enough to spare. But on the whole it is a fine palace, built after the French pavilion-way, by Mr. Hooke, the Curator of the Royal Society. There were with us my Lady Scroope, the great wit, and Monsieur Chardine [aged 39], the celebrated traveler.

On 10th January 1684 [his father] Edward Montagu 2nd Baron Montagu [aged 67] died. His son Ralph [aged 45] succeeded 3rd Baron Montagu of Boughton in Northamptonshire.

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

In 1690 [his son] John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu was born to Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 51] and [his wife] Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 44]. He married 1705 his third cousin Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu, daughter of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough and Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough, and had issue.

On 8th September 1692 Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 53] and Elizabeth "Mad Duchess" Cavendish Duchess Albermarle Duchess of 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 1694 John Holles 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 31] was created 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne. [his sister-in-law] Margaret Cavendish Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 32] by marriage Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne.

John Evelyn's Diary. 11th February 1694. Now was the great trial of the appeal of Lord Bath [aged 65] and Lord Montagu [aged 55] before the Lords, for the estate of the late Duke of Albemarle.

John Evelyn's Diary. 18th June 1696. The famous trial between my Lord Bath [aged 67] and Lord Montague [aged 57] for an estate of £11,000 a year, left by the Duke of Albemarle, wherein on several trials had been spent £20,000 between them. The Earl of Bath [aged 34] was cast on evident forgery.

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.

In 1705 Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 66] was created 1st Duke Montagu. [his wife] Elizabeth "Mad Duchess" Cavendish Duchess Albermarle Duchess of Montagu [aged 50] by marriage Duchess Montagu.

On 9th March 1709 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. Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu [aged 19] by marriage Duchess Montagu.

Before 11th September 1734 [his former wife] Elizabeth "Mad Duchess" Cavendish Duchess Albermarle Duchess of Montagu [aged 80] died. On 11th September 1734 she was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].

Grammont. Jermyn, without paying the least attention to his ill-humour, pursued his point, continued talking to Lady Shrewsbury, and did not leave her until the repast was ended.

He went to bed, proud of this triumph, and was waked next morning by a challenge: he took, for his second, Giles Rawlings, a man of intrigue, and a deep player. Howard took Dillon, who was dexterous and brave, much of a gentleman, and, unfortunately, an intimate friend to Rawlings.

In this duel fortune did not side with the votaries of love: poor Rawlings was left stone dead; and Jermyn, having received three wounds, was carried to his uncle's, with very little signs of life.

While the report of this event engaged the courtiers according to their several interests, the Chevalier de Grammont was informed by Jones, his friend, his confidant, and his rival, that there was another gentleman very attentive to Mrs. Middleton. This was Montagu, no very dangerous rival on account of his person, but very much to be feared for his assiduity, the acuteness of his wit, and for some other talents, which are of importance, when a man is once permitted to display them.

[his daughter] Anne Montagu was born to Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu and Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland. She married Alexander Popham.