Edward Montagu (judge)

Sir Edward Montagu (c. 1485 – 10 February 1557) was an English lawyer and judge.[1]

Sir Edward Montagu.

Life

He was born the 2nd son of Thomas Montagu of Hemington, Northamptonshire and Agnes Dudley, daughter of William Dudley of Clopton, Northamptonshire, and Christiana Darrel.

He was admitted to Middle Temple on 22 May 1506 and served as Autumn Reader for the Inn in 1524 and 1531. He was appointed Lord Chief Justice of the Court of the King's Bench in 1539, which office he resigned in 1545 when he was constituted Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. He was a member of the Privy Council of King Henry VIII of England, who appointed him one of sixteen executors of his last will, and governor to his son Edward. During the crisis of 1553 when Edward VI wished to alter the succession in favour of Lady Jane Grey, Montagu protested at the illegality of the proceedings. However, when the Duke of Northumberland called him a traitor and threatened him with physical violence, he withdrew his protest.[2] He was imprisoned in the Tower of London on Mary's accession but bought his way out.

He bought the manor of Boughton, near Kettering, Northamptonshire and built the family seat of Boughton House on the site.

Family

He married three times:

1. Agnes Kirkham
2. Cicely Lane
3. Eleanor Roper, daughter of John Roper of Well Hall, Eltham, Kent. He had eleven children (five sons and six daughters) with Eleanor.

His eldest surviving son, Edward (1532–1602), was father of eight sons and four daughters, including:

• Edward Montagu, first Baron Montagu
• Sir Henry Montagu, first Earl of Manchester, ancestor of the Earls of Halifax
• Charles Montagu (of Boughton), MP
• James Montagu, Bishop of Winchester
• Sir Sidney Montagu, MP, ancestor of the Earls of Sandwich

His widow died in May 1563.

See also

• Boughton House

References

1. "Montagu, Edward (d.1557)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
2. Ives, Eric (2009), Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery, Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 105, 148.

• Foss, Edward. Biographia Juridica: A Biographical Dictionary of the Judges of the England from the Conquest to the Present Time, 1066-1870. London: J. Murray, 1870. googlebooks.com Accessed September 16, 2007
• Collins, Arthur. The Peerage of England: Containing a Genealogical and Historical Account of All the Peers of That Kingdom. London: Printed for H. Woodfall [and 27 others]. 1768. googlebooks.com Accessed September 16, 2007