James Montagu (judge) facts for kids

Sir James Montagu (born 1666 – died 1723) was an important English lawyer and politician. He was part of the Whig party, which was one of the main political groups in England at the time. Sir James served in the House of Commons, which is like a parliament, and later became a judge. He also held very important legal jobs, such as Solicitor General and Attorney General.

Early Life and Education

Tufton Montagu, Sir James's first wife.

James Montagu was born in 1666 in Horton, Northamptonshire. He was the fifth son in his family to survive childhood. His grandfather was Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester, a very important person.

James went to Westminster School, a famous school in London. After that, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and also at Middle Temple, which is a place where lawyers are trained. In 1689, he officially became a lawyer, which is called being "called to the bar". In 1694, he started working as a secretary for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a high-ranking government official.

In 1694, James Montagu married Tufton Wray.

Political and Legal Career

Sir James Montagu had a long and active career in both law and politics.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1695, James Montagu was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for a place called Tregony. This meant he represented the people of that area in the House of Commons. Later, he also became an MP for Beeralston in 1698.

Important Legal Work

As a lawyer, James Montagu took on some big cases. In 1704, he successfully defended a writer named John Tutchin, who was accused of writing something against the government. This showed his skill in court.

In 1705, he was knighted, which means he received the title "Sir." He was also made a Queen's Counsel, a special title for experienced lawyers.

Serving the Government

In 1707, Sir James Montagu became the Solicitor General. This is a very important legal advisor to the government. Then, in 1708, he was promoted to Attorney General, which is the chief legal officer for the Crown. In this role, he was involved in important legal cases for the country.

He continued to be an MP for Carlisle during this time. However, when the government changed in 1710, he lost his job as Attorney General.

Later Judicial Roles

Sir James Montagu's first wife, Tufton, passed away in 1712. In 1713, he married his cousin, Elizabeth Montagu.

After his time as Attorney General, Sir James continued his legal career as a judge. In 1714, he became a Baron of the Exchequer, which is a type of judge in a special court. He also held other important legal positions, including being a Lord Commissioner of the Great Seal in 1718. In 1722, he became the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, which was a very high judicial position.

Death and Family

Sir James Montagu passed away in 1723. He had a son and a daughter with his first wife. His son, Charles, also became a Member of Parliament. His daughter, Elizabeth, married another important legal figure, Sir Clement Wearg. Sir James's brother was Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, who was also a very famous politician.

Images for kids

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  Tufton Montagu, Sir James's first wife.