Basil Montagu facts for kids

Basil Montagu (born April 24, 1770 – died November 27, 1851) was a British lawyer, writer, and a person who worked to help others (a philanthropist). He went to Charterhouse School and then studied law at Cambridge University. He played a big part in changing the laws about bankruptcy in Britain. From 1835 to 1846, he was the Accountant-General in Bankruptcy, which meant he managed money in bankruptcy cases. He was greatly inspired by the writings of Francis Bacon. Basil Montagu was the son of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, and a singer named Martha Ray.

Basil Montagu's Life Story

Basil Montagu was the second son of John Montagu and Martha Ray. His father accepted him, and he grew up at Hinchingbrooke House in Huntingdonshire. He went to Charterhouse School and then Christ's College, Cambridge. He studied law and became a member of Gray's Inn in 1789. After losing some of his expected inheritance, he moved to London to become a barrister.

He became good friends with famous poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth. He also shared their early excitement for the ideas of the French Revolution. In 1797, he traveled through the Midlands with William Godwin. He even stayed at Godwin's house to help him when his wife, Mary Wollstonecraft, was very ill after giving birth to their daughter, Mary Shelley.

Montagu became a barrister on May 19, 1798. Through his friend Sir James Mackintosh, he became interested in politics and the works of Francis Bacon. Montagu was also a friend of Samuel Parr. While he wasn't famous for arguing cases in court, he built a practice in chancery and bankruptcy law. He spent his free time on legal and writing projects.

In 1806, Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine, appointed Montagu as a commissioner in bankruptcy. This allowed Montagu to work on reforming bankruptcy laws. In 1808, he also helped start the Society for the Diffusion of Knowledge upon the Punishment of Death with William Allen. This group worked to change laws about the death penalty. In 1835, Montagu became a King's Counsel (K.C.), a senior lawyer. Soon after, he became the Accountant-General in Bankruptcy. During his time in this role, which lasted until 1846, he made sure the Bank of England paid interest on money held in bankruptcy accounts.

He was a member of the Athenæum Club in London. His home at 25 Bedford Square was a popular meeting place for writers and thinkers. He was known for listening carefully to Coleridge's long talks at Highgate. Basil Montagu passed away in Boulogne-sur-Mer on November 27, 1851.

Helping Animals: A Founder of the RSPCA

Basil Montagu was a key person in starting the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). This group later became the RSPCA in 1840, with royal approval from Queen Victoria. On June 16, 1824, Montagu attended a meeting at Old Slaughter's Coffee House in London. Other important people there included Sir James Mackintosh, Thomas Fowell Buxton, William Wilberforce, Richard Martin MP, and Reverend Arthur Broome.

Montagu was one of eleven members who formed a special group. This group was in charge of publishing books, sermons, and other materials. Their goal was to influence public opinion about treating animals kindly. Montagu had been friends with Reverend Broome for many years before the SPCA was founded. In 1815, Broome even dedicated one of his books to Montagu.

Basil Montagu's Writings

Basil Montagu wrote many books and pamphlets, especially about law and social issues. He focused a lot on improving bankruptcy laws. For example, he wrote a large collection of cases and rules about bankruptcy between 1805 and 1807. He also wrote about how difficult it was for creditors to refuse a bankrupt person's certificate. He also questioned the way bankruptcy cases were started.

Montagu was very passionate about ending the death penalty. From 1809 onwards, he published many writings that shared different opinions on capital punishment. He also wrote about copyright law and the laws of partnership. In 1816, he wrote about the Insolvent Debtors' Bill, which dealt with people who couldn't pay their debts.

He also worked on a major project editing the Works of Francis Bacon. This was a huge collection published in 16 volumes between 1825 and 1837. Montagu tried to show Bacon in a better light as a person. However, Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay later criticized Montagu's view of Bacon in a famous essay.

Besides his legal and philosophical works, Montagu also published collections of essays and thoughts. These included Thoughts on Laughter (1830) and Thoughts of Divines and Philosophers (1832). He also gave lectures about how knowledge and happiness are connected. He wrote a long series of pamphlets against the death penalty and two about giving more rights to Jewish people.

Some of his other works included:

• Enquiries and Observations respecting the University Library (1805)
• Some Enquiries into the Effects of Fermented Liquors (1814)
• Some Thoughts upon Liberty, and the Rights of Englishmen (1819)
• The Private Tutor, or Thoughts upon the Love of Excelling and the Love of Excellence (1820)

Basil Montagu's Family

Basil Montagu was married three times:

• First, to Caroline Matilda Want in 1790.
• Second, to Laura Rush in 1801.
• Third, to the widow of Thomas Skepper, whose maiden name was Benson.

He had a son named Basil Caroline with his first wife. This son is mentioned in some poems by William Wordsworth. He had three sons with his second wife. With his third wife, he had two sons and a daughter. Sadly, most of his children passed away before him.

His third wife, Mrs. Montagu, was known to the poet Robert Burns when she was younger. She also became friends with Thomas Carlyle, a famous writer, who often visited their home in Bedford Square. A painting of Basil Montagu by Opie was shown at an exhibition.