Alexander Montgomery (died 1785) facts for kids

Alexander Montgomery (born around 1721, died 1785) was an important Irish politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for County Monaghan, Ireland. He was also a General in the Volunteers, a group of armed citizens.

Early Life and Family Connections

Alexander Montgomery came from a well-known family in County Monaghan.

His Parents

His father was John Montgomery (died 1733) of Ballyleck, County Monaghan. John was also an MP for County Monaghan. He inherited the Ballyleck Estate because his older brother, Thomas, lost his inheritance. This happened because Thomas married an Englishwoman, which was not approved at the time.

Alexander's mother was Mary Coxe. She was a Maid of Honour to Queen Caroline, who was the wife of King George II of Great Britain. Mary's father, Dr. Daniel Coxe, was the Queen's doctor and also a governor in New Jersey.

Famous Cousin

Alexander Montgomery had a famous first cousin named Major-General Richard Montgomery. Richard was a hero in the American Revolution. He was the son of Thomas, the brother who lost his inheritance.

Political Career and Public Service

Alexander Montgomery had a long career in Irish politics.

Serving as an MP

He became an MP for County Monaghan in the Parliament of Ireland. He took over this role after his elder brother, John Montgomery, passed away in 1741. Alexander served as an MP from 1743 to 1760. He returned to Parliament later, serving again from August 1768 to 1783.

High Sheriff of Monaghan

Besides being an MP, Alexander Montgomery also held another important position. He was appointed High Sheriff of Monaghan for the years 1747 to 1748. The High Sheriff was a key official responsible for law and order in the county.

Marriages and Children

Alexander Montgomery was married twice and had several children.

First Marriage

In 1746, he married Miss Catharine Willoughby. She was the daughter of Colonel Hugh Willoughby. They had three sons:

• Colonel John Montgomery (1747–1797) (1747–1797): He also became an MP for County Monaghan. He was a Colonel in the Monaghan Militia.
• Colonel Hugh Montgomery (1749–1794): He served as a Colonel in the Honourable East India Company's army. He died unmarried in Madras, India.
• Reverend Robert Montgomery (1753–1825): He became a Rector in Monaghan, Ireland.

Second Marriage

Later, Alexander married Miss Eleanora Moore. She was the daughter of Acheson Moore. They had three children:

• Colonel Nathaniel Montgomery: He became an MP for County Tyrone. He was also a Colonel of the Tyrone Militia. He added "Moore" to his name to honor his mother's family.
• Miss Sidney Montgomery
• Miss Maria Montgomery

Neither Sidney nor Maria ever married.

Nickname and Reputation

Alexander Montgomery was known by a special nickname.

"Young Sandy"

People called him "Young Sandy." This helped to tell him apart from his cousin, Alexander Montgomery (1720–1800), who was known as "Old Sandy." His cousin also served in the Irish Parliament at the same time, representing County Donegal.

What People Thought of Him

Records from "The Irish Parliament 1775" say that Alexander Montgomery was "Always against the Government." This means he often voted against the ruling party. It also mentioned that Lord Dartrey and Lord Blayney had some influence over him.

Another record from 1782, "Sketches of the Members of the Irish Parliament," described him as "a very respectable man." It noted that he "opposed till the Duke of Portland's arrival." This suggests he was part of the opposition until a new leader, the Duke of Portland, arrived.