The Duke of Manchester
Governor of Jamaica
Sir Eyre Coote
1827 – 15 November 1830
The Viscount Goderich The Duke of Wellington
Lord Frederick Montagu
The Duke of Richmond
21 October 1771
18 March 1843 (aged 71)
Lady Susan Gordon
Colonel William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester (21 October 1771 – 18 March 1843), styled Viscount Mandeville until 1783, was a British peer, soldier, colonial administrator and politician.
[hide] 1 Background and education 2 Political career 3 Family 4 References
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. He was educated at Harrow and then served in the British Army, achieving the rank of colonel in 1794.
Manchester was Governor of Jamaica from 1808 to 1827, and prepared the colony for the emancipation of slaves. In 1815 he dealt with the aftermath of destruction of Port Royal by fire and of the plantations by a hurricane. Manchester Parish in Jamaica was named after him, while the capital of Mandeville was named after his son, Viscount Mandeville.
After his return to Britain he served as Postmaster General between 1827 and 1830 (succeeding his younger brother Lord Frederick Montagu). He was also Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire between 1793 and 1841.
Manchester married Lady Susan, third daughter of Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon, on 7 October 1793. They had eight children:
Lady Jane Montagu (1794–1815). George Montagu, 6th Duke of Manchester (1799–1855). Lord William Francis Montagu (1800–1842), married Emily, third daughter of James Du Pre. Lady Georgiana Frederica Montagu (1803–1892), married Evan Baillie and had issue. Lady Elizabeth Montagu, married Thomas Steele and had issue, including Thomas Montagu Steele Lady Susan Montagu (c. 1801–1870), married George Hay, 8th Marquess of Tweeddale and had issue. Lady Caroline Catherine Montagu (c. 1804–1892), married John Calcraft and had issue. Lady Emily Montagu (1806–1827).
The Duchess of Manchester caused a social scandal when she eloped with one of her footmen. According to the 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, she died at Eaton, Edinburgh, in August 1828, aged 54. Manchester survived her by fifteen years and died in Rome, Italy, in March 1843, aged 71. He was succeeded in the dukedom by his son, George