George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Halifax
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| Auditor of the Exchequer | |
| In office 1714–1739 |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Halifax |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Walpole |
| Member of Parliament for Northampton | |
| In office 1707–1715 Serving with Francis Arundell, William Wykes
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| Preceded by | Parliament of England |
| Succeeded by | William Wykes William Wilmer |
| In office 1705–1707 Serving with Francis Arundell
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| Preceded by | Sir Matthew Dudley Francis Arundell |
| Succeeded by | Parliament of Great Britain |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Montagu
1684 |
| Died | 1739 |
| Parents | Edward Montagu Elizabeth Pelham |
| Residence | Horton Hall |
| Education | Eton College |
| Note | uncle also held Barony of Halifax which he inherited by special remainder, had been made first earl of the first creation in 1714. |
George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax (born around 1684, died May 9, 1739) was an important British politician. He was also known as George Montague. He lived at Horton in Northamptonshire.
George Montagu served in the House of Commons, which is part of the British Parliament. He was a Member of Parliament from 1705 until 1715. After that, he became a peer, which meant he held a special noble title.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Montagu was the son of Edward Montagu and Elizabeth Pelham. His father passed away in 1690, and George took over his family's responsibilities. He also became the Warden and chief forester of Salcey Forest in Northamptonshire. He held this job for his entire life.
He went to Eton College, a famous school, in 1698. From 1701 to 1704, he traveled around Europe. He visited places like Italy, Austria, and Holland. He even went as far as Budapest, Belgrade, and Constantinople. George Montagu was also a great-grandson of Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester.
Political Career
George Montagu became a Member of Parliament for Northampton in 1705. He was elected without anyone running against him. He was re-elected several times, in 1708, 1710, and 1713.
In 1714, he was given the important job of Auditor of the Exchequer. This role involved checking the government's money. He kept this position for the rest of his life.
He became a Privy Councillor in 1717. This meant he was a trusted advisor to the King. In 1720, he was made a Lord Justice. He also became the Keeper of Bushy Park, a large park near London. In 1725, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Bath. This is a special honor given by the King.
Homes and Estates
His family's main home was Horton House in Horton, Northamptonshire. This house was taken down in 1936.
As the Ranger of Bushy Park, George Montagu had a house built there between 1714 and 1715. It was called 'Upper Lodge' or 'New Lodge'. Today, this building is part of the National Physical Laboratory. After George Montagu, the house passed to his son.
Becoming a Peer
George's uncle, Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, had no children. He made sure that his noble titles would go to George. George was the eldest son of his eldest brother. His uncle also left him most of his property.
George became the second Baron Halifax after his uncle passed away. A few weeks later, he was given the titles of Earl of Halifax and Viscount Sunbury. These titles had been given to his uncle the year before. Two years later, he became a member of the Privy Council.
Family Life
George Montagu was married two times.
His first marriage was on April 8, 1706, to Ricarda Posthuma Saltonstall. She passed away in 1711. They had one daughter:
- Lady Lucy Montagu (born around 1709, died 1734). She married Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford.
Around June 28, 1712, Montagu married Lady Mary Lumley. She was the daughter of Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarborough. They had at least seven children together, including:
- George Montagu, 2nd Earl of Halifax (1716–1771). He received his father's titles when his father died in 1739.
- Lady Frances Montagu (died 1768). She married Sir Roger Burgoyne, 6th Baronet.
- Lady Anne Montagu (born around 1720, died 1766). She married Joseph Jekyll.
- Lady Mary Montagu (died 1743). She married Sir Danvers Osborn, 3rd Baronet.
- Lady Elizabeth Montagu (died 1789). She married Henry Archer.
- Lady Barbara Montagu (died 1765). She never married.
- Lady Charlotte Montagu (died 1762). She married Colonel James Johnston.
George Montagu passed away in 1739. His son, also named George, became the next Earl of Halifax.
Descendants
Through his eldest daughter, Lucy, George Montagu was the grandfather of Frederick North, Lord North. Lord North later became the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782.
