Duke of Manchester

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Kimbolton Castle in 1880, the former seat of the Dukes of Manchester.

Duke of Manchester is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1719 for the politician Charles Montagu, 4th Earl of Manchester. He notably served as Secretary of State for the Southern Department. The Montagu family descends from Sir Edward Montagu, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. His son Sir Henry Montagu also served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's bench as well as Lord High Treasurer of England and Lord Privy Seal. In 1620 he was raised to the Peerage of England as Baron Kimbolton, of Kimbolton in the County of Huntingdon, and Viscount Mandeville. In 1626 he was further honoured when he was made Earl of Manchester, also in the Peerage of England. His son, the second Earl, was a prominent Parliamentary General during the Civil War but later supported the restoration of Charles II.

His son, the third Earl, represented Huntingdonshire in the House of Commons. His son was the aforementioned fourth Earl, who was created Duke of Manchester in 1719. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Duke. He notably served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard in the administration of Sir Robert Walpole. He was childless and on his death the titles passed to his younger brother, the third Duke. He had earlier represented Huntingdonshire in Parliament. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Duke. He was Ambassador to France and served as Lord Chamberlain of the Household. His son, the fifth Duke, was Governor of Jamaica for many years and also held office as Postmaster General between 1827 and 1830. He was succeeded by his son, the sixth Duke. He represented Huntingdon in the House of Commons as a Tory.

His eldest son, the seventh Duke, was Conservative Member of Parliament for Bewdley and Huntingdonshire. His son, the eighth Duke, briefly represented Huntingdonshire in Parliament. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the ninth Duke. He sat on the Liberal benches in the House of Lords and served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard in the Liberal administration of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. As of 2007 the titles are held by his great-grandson, the thirteenth Duke, who succeeded his father in 2002 (who in his turn had succeeded his elder brother in 1985).

The Heir Apparent is styled Viscount Mandeville, and the Heir Apparent's Heir Apparent (when such exists), in one of only two exceptions to the 'rule' that the heirs of Viscounts do not use courtesy peerages, is styled Lord Kimbolton.

The traditional estate of the family was at Kimbolton Castle, but the 10th Duke sold it in 1950; it is now a private school, Kimbolton School. The current Duke lives in California. The family also used to own Tandragee Castle, Co Armagh. They sold it in 1955 and it is now the headquarters of Tayto (NI) Ltd, a potato crisp manufacturer.

Several other members of the Montagu family have been elevated to the peerage. The first Earl of Manchester was the younger brother of Edward Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton, the ancestor of the Dukes of Montagu, and the uncle of Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich.

1 Earls of Manchester (1626)
2 Dukes of Manchester (1719)
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Earls of Manchester (1626)

Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester (c. 1563-1642)
Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester (1602-1671)
Robert Montagu, 3rd Earl of Manchester (1634-1683)
Charles Montagu, 4th Earl of Manchester (1656-1722) (created Duke of Manchester in 1719)

[edit] Dukes of Manchester (1719)

The Heir Apparent is the present holder's only son Alexander Michael Charles David Francis George Edward William Kimble Drogo Montagu, Viscount Mandeville (b. 1993)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page
www.thepeerage.com