Charles Montagu, 1st Duke of Manchester

Portrait of Charles Montagu by Godfrey Kneller, circa 1711

Charles Edward Montagu, 1st Duke of Manchester, 4th Earl of Manchester (c. 1656 – 20 January 1722), son of Robert Montagu, 3rd Earl of Manchester, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge,^[1] and succeeded to his father's earldom in 1683. Warmly sympathizing with the Whig revolution of 1688, he attended William and Mary at their coronation, and fought under William at the Boyne.

In 1697, he was sent as an envoy to Venice to try to procure the release of British sailors, but the Venetians proved unwilling to negotiate. On his return in 1698, he was appointed a privy councillor. The following year he was sent as British ambassador to France, remaining there until the outreak of war in 1701. He was then briefly appointed Secretary of State for the Southern Department, a post he held between January and May 1702. He was then out of office until again sent to Venice, as ambassador, but during his time there in 1707 and 1708, this negotiations (to persuade Venice to adhere to the Grand Alliance) were again unsuccessful.

In 1714 he received an appointment in the household of George I, by whom on 28 April 1719 he was created Duke of Manchester. In 1719 he was one of main subscribers in the Royal Academy of Music (1719), a corporation that produced baroque opera on stage.^{[citation needed]} He died on 20 January 1722. He was the father of both the 2nd Duke of Manchester and the 3rd Duke of Manchester.^[2]

See also

List of deserters from James II to William of Orange

References

1. ^ Montagu, Charles in Venn, J. & J. A., Alumni Cantabrigienses, Cambridge University Press, 10 vols, 1922–1958.
2. ^ J. M. Rigg, ‘Montagu, Charles, first duke of Manchester (c.1662–1722)’, rev. Matthew Kilburn, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [1], accessed 20 April 2009.

Political offices
Preceded by The Viscount Grandison	Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard 1670–1702	Succeeded by Marquess of Hartington
Preceded by James Vernon	Secretary of State for the Southern Department 1702	Succeeded by The Earl of Nottingham
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by	British envoy to Venice 1697–1698	Succeeded by
Preceded by The Earl of Jersey	English Ambassador to France 1699–1701	Vacant War of Spanish Succession Title next held by The Duke of Hamilton
Preceded by	British ambassador to Venice 1707–1708	Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by The Earl of Ailesbury	Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire 1689–1722	Succeeded by Viscount Hinchingbrooke
Peerage of England
Preceded by Robert Montagu	Earl of Manchester 1683–1722	Succeeded by William Montagu
Peerage of Great Britain
New title	Duke of Manchester 1719–1722	Succeeded by William Montagu