Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich, KG (27 July 1625 – 28 May 1672) was an English Infantry officer who later became a naval officer. He was the only surviving son of Sir Sidney Montagu, by his wife Paulina Pepys of Cottenham ( great-aunt of Samuel Pepys) and was brought up at Hinchingbrooke House.
He served the Cause of Parliament by raising a regiment of infantry in June 1643 and then he went on to serve the Commonwealth of England and, in 1656 he became a General at Sea. After the Restoration he served Charles II as Admiral, commanding the fleet that brought him back from exile in May 1660. Two months later, on 12 July 1660, he was created Baron Montagu of St Neots, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, and Earl of Sandwich. King Charles also made him a Knight of the Garter and appointed him Master of the Great Wardrobe, Admiral of the narrow seas, and Lieutenant Admiral to The Duke of York, Lord High Admiral of England. He carried St. Edward's staff at Charles' subsequent coronation.
In the Second Anglo-Dutch War of 1665 to 1667 he fought at the Battle of Lowestoft but defeat at the Battle of Vågen led to him being removed from service. During his absence from battle Edward Montagu served as England's ambassador to Spain. After the Great Fire of London Montagu downplayed the damage to the Spanish King claiming that London's slums were the only thing in ashes. This slant on the events was also practiced by England's ambassadors throughout Europe.[1] He was subsequently reappointed however, and by 1672 at the start of the Third Anglo-Dutch War he was Vice-Admiral of the Blue with the Royal James as his flagship. At the Battle of Solebay his ship was attacked by a group of fire ships and was destroyed with the loss of many lives, including Sandwich himself, whose charred body was found washed ashore and only recognizable from the remains of his clothing.
On Wednesday 3 July 1672 he was buried in Westminster Abbey after a state funeral that started with a procession along the River Thames of five decorated barges from Deptford. The body was landed at Westminster at about 5.00pm and carried to the Abbey in a grand procession.
Montagu was the first cousin of the father of Samuel Pepys. Pepys started his career as a minor member of the Montagu household and owed his appointments first to the Wardrobe and then as Clerk of the Acts to the Navy Board to Montagu's influence. Pepys' diary provides a detailed primary source for Montagu's career in the 1660s.
On 7 November 1642, Montagu married Jemima Crew, by whom he had ten children:
London Gazette #691 Monday July 1, to Thursday July 4, 1672
| Court offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| English Interregnum | Master of the Great Wardrobe 1660–1671 |
Succeeded by Sir Ralph Montagu |
| Honorary titles | ||
| English Interregnum | Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire jointly with The 2nd Earl of Manchester 1660–1671 The 3rd Earl of Manchester 1671–1672 |
Succeeded by The 3rd Earl of Manchester |
| Custos Rotulorum of Huntingdonshire 1660–1672 |
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| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by Sir Richard Fanshawe, 1st Baronet |
English Ambassador to Spain 1666–1666 |
Succeeded by Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland |
| Peerage of England | ||
| New title | Earl of Sandwich 1660–1672 |
Succeeded by Edward Montagu |
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