Montagu Venables-Bertie, 2nd Earl of Abingdon facts for kids

Montagu Venables-Bertie, the 2nd Earl of Abingdon, was an important English nobleman. He was born on February 4, 1673, and passed away on June 16, 1743. Before becoming Earl of Abingdon, he was known as Hon. Montagu Bertie and later as Lord Norreys.

Early Life and Political Start

Montagu was the oldest son of James Bertie, the 1st Earl of Abingdon. His mother was Eleanora Lee. Even when he was young, Montagu showed leadership. He became a captain in the local militia (a group of citizen soldiers). This happened during a time of unrest known as the Monmouth Rebellion.

Thanks to his father's influence, Montagu gained important positions in his local towns. In 1686, he became a freeman and councilman in Woodstock. A year later, in 1687, he also became a freeman of Oxford. These roles meant he had certain rights and responsibilities in those communities.

On September 22, 1687, Montagu married Anne Venables. She was the daughter of Peter Venables. After their marriage, Montagu added "Venables" to his last name.

Joining Parliament

In January 1689, Montagu was elected to the English Parliament. He represented Berkshire, even though he was still underage. His father's influence helped him win this election. During this time, he also became a bailiff in Oxford. He was also appointed a deputy lieutenant for Oxfordshire, a role he held until 1701.

Montagu was part of the Convention Parliament, which was a very important meeting. Like most of his family, he was a Tory. This political group supported the king. He voted that the throne was not empty after King James II left England.

Later Political Career

Montagu continued his political journey. In 1690, he was elected to Parliament again, this time representing Oxfordshire. He and another Tory, Sir Robert Jenkinson, won by a large number of votes. He served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire from 1690 to 1699.

He held several other important jobs. From 1702 to 1705, he was the Constable of the Tower of London. This was a very old and respected position. He was also the Lord Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets and Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire during these years. These roles meant he was the King's representative in those areas.

In 1705, a different political group, the Whigs, came into power. Because of this, Montagu lost his offices in October 1705. However, he returned to public service later. From 1711 to 1715, he was the Chief Justice in Eyre, south of the River Trent. He also became Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire again from 1712 to 1715. When Queen Anne died in 1714, he was appointed a Lord Justice of the Realm. This meant he was one of the people who governed the country temporarily.

Land Ownership

Montagu also bought and sold land during his life. In 1702, he bought the manor of Godstow. However, he sold it in 1710 to John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough. The Duke also bought another nearby manor from someone else. Montagu also bought the manor of Littleton Auncells in 1703–1704. This land was added to his existing estate. Before 1738, he sold the manor of Bradenstoke to Germanicus Sheppard.

Family Life

Montagu married twice. His first wife was Anne Venables, whom he married on September 22, 1687. Anne was the daughter of Peter Venables. She also held an important position at court. She was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Anne from 1702 to 1705, and again from 1712 until the Queen's death in 1714. Anne passed away on April 28, 1715.

Montagu's second wife was Mary Gould. She was the widow of Charles Churchill. They married on February 13, 1716/7. They had one son together:

• James Bertie, Lord Norreys (born November 14, 1717 – died February 25, 1717/8). He passed away when he was very young.

Mary, Montagu's second wife, was buried on January 7, 1757.

Montagu Venables-Bertie, the 2nd Earl of Abingdon, died on June 16, 1743. He was buried on June 27. His nephew, Willoughby Bertie, became the 3rd Earl of Abingdon after him.