Friday, May 27, 2016

Most Noble George Montagu, sixth Duke of Manchester (1719), ninth Earl of Manchester (1626), Viscount Mandeville and Baron Montagu of Kimbolton (1620), a Commander in the Royal Navy, and Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Armagh. His Grace was born at Kimbolton Castle on the 9th July, 1799, the elder son of William the fifth Duke, by Lady Susan Gordon, third daughter of Alexander fourth Duke of Gordon, K.T. He entered the navy on the 19th Feb. 1812, as a volunteer on board the Antelope 50, Capt. James Carpenter, bearing the flag of Sir John Thomas Duckworth at Newfoundland. In Feb. 1813, he joined the San Josef 110, flag-ship of Sir Richard King in the Mediterranean ; where, in Jan. 1814, he became midshipman of l'Aigle 36, Capt. Sir John Louis, with whom he continued to serve in the Scamander and Forth frigates, on the Home and Halifax stations, until transferred in Sept. 1818, to the Larne 20, then at Jamaica. He was promoted Nov. 20,1818, to a Lieutenancy in the Confiance sloop, also in the West Indies, and in Feb. 1819, removed to the Sybille 44, the flag-ship of Sir Home Popham on the same station. On the 22d of March, 1821, he was appointed to the Medina 20, and on the 30th Oct. following, to the Rochfort 80. Altogether he served for eleven years on full pay, and was promoted to the rank of Commander July 19, 1822. Lord Mandeville's entrance into political life was remarkable as being the means of ejecting Lord John Russell from the representation of Huntingdonshire, for which his Lordship had sat (together with Mr. Fellowes) during the parliament of 1820-26. This took place at the general election of 1826, when the polling was for Lord Mandeville 968 Wm. H. Fellowes, esq. . . .911 Lord John Russell .... 858 In 1830 Mr. Rooper was proposed on the Whig interest, but without success— Lord Mandeville 1068 Lord Strathaven 990 John Bonfoy Rooper, esq. . . 804 In 1831, on the eve of the Reform bill, the result was different, but Lord Mandeville maintained his seat— John Bonfoy Rooper, esq. . . 841 Lord Mandeville 812 Lord Strathaven 573 In 1832 and 1835 Lord Mandeville and Mr. Rooper were re-elected. At the dissolution of 1837 his Lordship resigned his seat. He succeeded to the peerage on the death of his father March 18, 1843. The duke never took an active part in politics ; but whenever a vote was to be given in support of the Protestant interests of the country, or of our Protestant constitution, the Duke of Manchester's name was sure to be found in the division lists. The duke was the author of several publications, some published with his name, others anonymously. One of the most remarkable of the latter was "The Harmony of the Four Gospels." It was an unpretending little pamphlet, but it was considered particularly happy in reconciling what appear to be discrepancies between the Evangelists ; and several professors at our universities have, in consequence of the publication, altered their teaching, and rendered it in conformity with the Duke's views. His other works were :— Horse Hebraicee ; an attempt to discover how the argument of the Epistle to the Hebrews must have been understood by those therein addressed, with appendices on Messiah's Kingdom, Sec. 1835. 8vo. Things hoped for : the doctrine of the Second Advent, as embodied in the standards of the Church of England. 1837. Hvo. The Times of Daniel, chronological and prophetical, examined with relation to the point of contact between Sacred and Profane Chronology. 1845. Bvo. The Finished Mystery; to which is added an examination of Mr. Brown on the Second Advent. 1847. 8vo. 1 Corinthians xv. 28, a fragment. 1853. Notes upon Daniel viii. and ix. 1853. All these works show great diligence, profound thought, and wide reading. His views on prophecy agreed with the Futurist party. By the Duke's death the Protestant cause has lost one of its most valued and important leaders. Till within about two months of his death his Grace was at the head of the National Club, having occupied that post from its first foundation. During the time when the committee were actively engaged in resisting the encroachments of Rome, whether attempted from the Vatican, or by the Romish priesthood and its parliamentary representatives in the United Kingdom, the Duke took his part in its labours, and by his judicious