Edward Montagu (1692-1775)

Edward Montagu (1692-1775) was a wealthy English landowner, who owned numerous coal mines and had several rents and estates in Northumberland. He was the grandson of Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Sandwich. He married Elizabeth Robinson ["Burkes Peerage" (1939), s.v. Sandwich, Earl. ] (despite her seeing marriage as a rational and expedient convention rather than something done out of love) in 1742. At that date, she was twenty-two and he was fifty years old. The marriage was advantageous, but it was apparently not very passionate. All the same, she bore a son, John, the next year, and she loved her child immensely. When John died unexpectedly in 1744, Elizabeth was devastated and, though the couple remained friendly throughout their remaining time together, there were no more children or pregnancies.

Beginning in 1750, he and Elizabeth established a routine where they would winter in London in Mayfair and then, in the spring, go to Sandleford. He would then go on to Northumberland and Yorkshire to manage his holdings, while she would occasionally accompany him. In the late 1760's, he fell ill, and his wife took care of him, although she resented giving up her freedom. He died in 1775, bequeathing her all his wealth and property.

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