Frederick Montagu facts for kids
Frederick Montagu (born July 1733 – died 30 July 1800) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Whig party. He served as a MP, which means he was elected to represent people in the British government.
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A Look at Frederick Montagu's Life
Frederick Montagu came from a well-known family. His father, Charles Montagu, worked for the Duchy of Cornwall. This is a special estate that provides income for the Prince of Wales. Charles was also an MP for several areas. He passed away in 1759.
Frederick's mother was Ann Colladon. She was a popular person in society after her husband died. She was a close friend of Mary, the Dowager-Countess of Gower, and also of Mary Delany. Ann Montagu lived in Hanover Square in London. She died in 1780.
Frederick's Education and Early Career
Frederick went to Eton, a famous school. After that, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He started there in February 1750. He even won a prize for a speech he gave about a famous thinker named Bacon. This speech was published in 1755. He earned his Master of Arts degree in 1757.
While at Cambridge, Frederick became friends with two poets, Thomas Gray and William Mason. He kept up these friendships later in life. In fact, he helped Mason get a job at York Cathedral in 1762.
Becoming a Lawyer and Politician
In 1757, Frederick became a lawyer, called a barrister, at Lincoln's Inn. This is one of the places where lawyers are trained in London. He later became a senior member there in 1782.
When his father died in 1759, Frederick inherited the Papplewick estate. He also took over his father's seat as an MP for Northampton. He served there until 1767. Later, he represented Higham Ferrers as an MP from 1768 to 1790.
His Political Role
Frederick Montagu was a strong supporter of the Cavendish and Rockingham political groups. In 1772, he tried to end a special day of fasting held on January 30th. This day remembered the execution of King Charles I. The fast was finally stopped much later, in 1859.
In 1780, many people thought he would become the Speaker of the House of Commons. This is a very important job, leading the discussions in Parliament. He became a Lord of the Treasury in 1782. This meant he helped manage the country's money. He served in this role twice. In 1787, he was part of a group that prepared to put Warren Hastings on trial.
Retirement and Later Life
Frederick Montagu was well-liked by people in society. He also enjoyed literature. He was known for being a very honest person. When he retired from Parliament in 1790, he was made a privy councillor. This is a special advisor to the King or Queen.
He mostly lived at his home, Papplewick Hall, which he had rebuilt in 1787. He liked the ideas in Burke's book, Reflections on the Revolution in France. In 1793, he received a special law degree from Oxford University.
Frederick Montagu never married. He passed away at Papplewick on July 30, 1800. He is buried at Saint James church in Papplewick.
Montagu Family Connections
Frederick had a sister named Ann. She died in 1786. Ann was married to John Fountayne, who was the Dean of York. Frederick's estate at Papplewick, along with the Montagu name, later went to Ann's grandson, Richard Fountayne Wilson.
