William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester

Colonel William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester (21 October 1771  18 March 1843), styled Viscount Mandeville until 1788, was a British peer, soldier, colonial administrator and politician. He was Governor of Jamaica from 1808 to 1827, and Manchester Parish was named after him.


The Duke of Manchester
Kimbolton Castle, Huntingdonshire in 1880, seat of the Dukes of Manchester
Governor of Jamaica
In office
1808–1827
MonarchGeorge III
George IV
Preceded bySir Eyre Coote
Succeeded byJohn Keane
Postmaster General
In office
1827  15 November 1830
MonarchGeorge IV
William IV
Prime MinisterGeorge Canning
The Viscount Goderich
The Duke of Wellington
Preceded byLord Frederick Montagu
Succeeded byThe Duke of Richmond
Personal details
Born21 October 1771 (1771-10-21)
Died18 March 1843(1843-03-18) (aged 71)
Rome, Italy
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Lady Susan Gordon
(1774–1828)
Children8, including George
ParentsGeorge Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester
Elizabeth Dashwood

Background and education

Manchester was the eldest surviving son of George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Dashwood, 2nd Baronet.[1] He was educated at Harrow and then served in the British Army, achieving the rank of colonel in 1794.[2]

In 1788 he succeeded his father to his titles and the Kimbolton Castle estate in Huntingdonshire.

Political career

Manchester was Governor of Jamaica from 1808 to 1827. During his term, he oversaw the implementation of the abolition of the Slave Trade in the colony. In 1815 he dealt with the aftermath of the Port Royal fire and the devastation of Jamaican plantations by a hurricane. Manchester Parish in Jamaica was named after him, while the capital of Mandeville was named after his son, Viscount Mandeville.[3]

After his return to Britain Manchester served as Postmaster General between 1827 and 1830 (succeeding his younger brother Lord Frederick Montagu).[2][4] He was also Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire between 1793 and 1841.[4]

Family

Manchester married Lady Susan Gordon, third daughter of Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon, on 7 October 1793. They had eight children:[5]

The Duchess Susan caused a social scandal by eloping with one of her footmen. According to The Complete Peerage, "it is mentioned in the Memoirs of a Highland Lady, under date 1812, that 'the Duchess had left home years before with one of her footmen.' Lady Jerningham wrote, 6 September 1813: 'the Duchess of Manchester is finally parted from her husband, her conduct becoming most notoriously bad'". Having become a social outcast, Susan died at Eaton, Edinburgh, in August 1828, at age 54.

Manchester survived his wife by fifteen years and died in Rome, Italy, in March 1843, at age 71. He was succeeded in the dukedom by his son, George.[6]

References

  1. Lundy 2013, p. 2938 § 29374 cites Mosley 2003, vol. 1, p. 1043
  2. McNeill 1911, p. 547.
  3. www.flickr.com Manchester, Jamaica
  4. leighrayment.com Peerage: Mance to Massereene
  5. John Debrett (1836). Debrett's Peerage of England, Scotland, and Ireland. [Another]. p. 22. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  6. Lundy 2011a, p. 10644 § 106433 cites Mosley 2003, vol. 2, p. 2585
  7. Lundy 2011b, p. 47658 § 476579 cites Mosley 2003, vol. 2, p. 2585
  8. Lundy 2011a, p. 10644 § 106433 cites Mosley 1999, vol. 1, p. 229.
  9. Lundy 2011a, p. 10644 § 106433 cites Cokayne 2000, p. 459
  • McNeill, Ronald John (1911). "Manchester, Earls and Dukes of" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 543.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lundy, Darryl (16 August 2011a). "William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester". thepeerage.com. p. 10644 § 106433.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
    • Cokayne, G.E.; et al., eds. (2000). The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant. XII/2 (new, reprint in 6 volumes ed.). Gloucester: Alan Sutton Publishing. p. 459.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
    • Mosley, Charles, ed. (1999). Burke's Peerage and Baronetage (106th in 2 volumes ed.). Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
    • Mosley 2003, volume 2, page 2585
  • Lundy, Darryl (14 August 2011b). "James Dupré". thepeerage.com. p. 47658 § 476579.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lundy, Darryl (25 August 2013). "Elizabeth Dashwood". thepeerage.com. p. 2938 § 29374.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (107th in 3 volumes ed.). Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Government offices
Preceded by
Sir Eyre Coote
Governor of Jamaica
18081821
Succeeded by
John Keane
Political offices
Preceded by
Lord Frederick Montagu
Postmaster General
18271830
Succeeded by
The Duke of Richmond
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Duke of Montrose
Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire
17931841
Succeeded by
The Earl of Sandwich
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by
George Montagu
Duke of Manchester
17881843
Succeeded by
George Montagu
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