Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester
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Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester (c. 1563-1642) was the grandson of Sir Edward Montagu, chief justice of the king’s bench 1539—1545, who was named by King Henry VIII one of the executors of his will, and governor to his son, Edward VI.
Sir Henry Montagu, who was born at Boughton, Northamptonshire, about 1563, was educated at Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, and, having been called to the bar, was elected recorder of London in 1603, and in 1616 was made Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, in which office it fell to him to pass sentence on Sir Walter Raleigh in October 1618.
In 1620 he was appointed Lord High Treasurer, being raised to the peerage as Baron Montagu of Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire, and Viscount Mandeville. He became President of the Council in 1621, in which office he was continued by Charles I, who created him Earl of Manchester in 1626. In 1628 he became Lord Privy Seal, and in 1635 a commissioner of the treasury.
Although from the beginning of his public life in 1601, when he first entered parliament, Manchester had inclined to the popular side in politics, be managed to retain to the end the favour of the king. He was a judge of the Star Chamber, and one of the most trusted councillors of Charles I. His loyalty, ability and honesty were warmly praised by Clarendon. In conjunction with Coventry, the lord keeper, he pronounced an opinion in favour of the legality of ship-money in 1634.
He died on 7 November 1642.
Manchester was married three times. One of his sons by his third wife was father of Charles Montagu, created Earl of Halifax in 1699. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester.
| Preceded by: In Commission (First Lord: George Abbot) | Lord High Treasurer 1620–1621 | Succeeded by: The Earl of Middlesex |
| Preceded by: Office Restored | Lord President of the Council 1621–1628 | Succeeded by: The Earl of Marlborough |
| Preceded by: Sir Robert Naunton | Lord Privy Seal 1628–1642 | Succeeded by: The Viscount Falkland |
| Preceded by: New Creation | Earl of Manchester | Succeeded by: Edward Montagu |