Charles Montagu, 1st Duke of Manchester

Charles Edward Montagu, 1st Duke of Manchester PC (c. 1662 – 20 January 1722), previously 4th Earl of Manchester, son of Robert Montagu, 3rd Earl of Manchester, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and succeeded to his father's earldom in 1683. Warmly sympathizing with the Whig revolution of 1688, he attended William and Mary at their coronation, and fought under William at the Boyne.

In 1697, he was sent as an envoy to Venice to try to procure the release of British sailors, but the Venetians proved unwilling to negotiate. On his return in 1698, he was appointed a privy councillor. The following year he was sent as British ambassador to France, remaining there until the outreak of war in 1701. He was then briefly appointed Secretary of State for the Southern Department, a post he held between January and May 1702. He was then out of office until again sent to Venice, as ambassador, but during his time there in 1707 and 1708, this negotiations (to persuade Venice to adhere to the Grand Alliance) were again unsuccessful.

In 1714 he received an appointment in the household of George I, by whom on 28 April 1719 he was created Duke of Manchester. In 1719 he was one of the main subscribers to the Royal Academy of Music (1719), a corporation that produced baroque opera on the stage. He died on 20 January 1722. He was the father of both the 2nd Duke of Manchester and the 3rd Duke of Manchester.

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