skip to content
home / edition / people / Matthew Montagu

Matthew Montagu


(b. Nov. 23, 1762, London, England – d. Sept. 1, 1831, Sandleford Priory, near Newbury )

Gender: M

Matthew Robinson (1762-1831) was the younger son of Morris Robinson and Jane Greenland. Other than his elder brother Morris, who was to inherit the title and estates of his uncle Matthew Robinson Morris, 3rd Baron Rokeby, he was the only male of his generation in the Robinson family. His aunt Elizabeth Montagu reached an agreement with his parents that she would pay for his education and make him her heir, since her own son had died as an infant. After Edward Montagu died in 1775, she took him to live with her, and on 3rd June 1776, at the age of thirteen, he formally changed his name to Montagu. In the same year, she took him to Paris for several months together with Montagu Pennington, nephew of her friend Elizabeth Carter, who was of a similar age.

Matthew was first educated at Cheam School in Surrey and was then moved (at his aunt’s instigation) to the house of her friend Revd. John Burrows at Hadley in Essex. She then sent him to Harrow School in 1777, accompanied by a new tutor, Rev William Gilbank, and in 1780 he went up to Trinity Hall, Cambridge. His aunt arranged for him to enter parliament in the May 1786 election via the rotten borough of Bossiney in Cornwall, which was controlled by her friend Lord Mount Edgcumbe. In 1790 he exchanged this for the Cornish seat of Tregony, which he held for six years. He was ‘a faithful follower of Pitt’ but was out of parliament between 1796 and 1806, when he was returned for St Germans, another Cornish rotten borough, and he finally retired in 1812. He was a friend of William Wilberforce, and supported his attempts to bring about the abolition of slavery.

Elizabeth Montagu had hoped Matthew would marry her companion, Dorothea Gregory, and was bitterly disappointed when Gregory chose to marry Revd. Archibald Alison. She chose as Matthew’s bride Elizabeth Charlton (c. 1770 – 1817), an orphan and heiress with a fortune of £50,000, and personally negotiated the marriage settlement. They married on 9th July 1785 at St Marylebone in London, and the couple then came to live with her at Sandleford Priory in Berkshire and Montagu House in Portman Square in London. They had six sons and seven daughters: only two of their sons were to marry. On her death, she left her entire estate (with the exception of some small legacies) to Matthew.

Matthew had already been inducted by his aunt into the management of her estates and coal mines in Newcastle, and had taken sole responsibility for them during the last years of her life. After her death, he published four volumes of her correspondence as The Letters of Mrs Elizabeth Montagu (London: Cadell and Davies, 1809-1813).

On the death of his brother Morris in 1829, Matthew succeeded to the title of 4th Baron Rokeby in the Peerage of Ireland, and inherited the family estate at Mount Morris in Kent. He died only two years later, and the title went successively to his sons Edward and Henry Robinson, but was extinguished in 1883 on Henry’s death without surviving male issue.

Matthew Montagu died at Montagu House in Portman Square at the age of 68 and was buried at the church of St Marylebone, London.

Also known as:

  • Matthew Montagu

Authorities

EMCO Family Treesexternal link
VIAF Authority File IDexternal link
Wikipediaexternal link

Mentioned in 200 letters

Title EMCO ID
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Hester Thrale Piozzi 1
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Hester Thrale Piozzi 5
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Hester Thrale Piozzi 9
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 12
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 14
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Hester Thrale Piozzi 23
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Sarah Elizabeth Robinson 87
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 1742
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 1750
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1782
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1783
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1785
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1791
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1797
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1798
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1799
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1800
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1801
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1802
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1803
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1804
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1813
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1814
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Hester Thrale Piozzi 1822
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Hester Thrale Piozzi 1824
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Hester Thrale Piozzi 1828
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1829
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1830
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1833
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1834
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1836
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1837
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1841
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1842
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1843
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1844
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1845
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1847
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1848
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1849
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1850
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1851
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1852
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1853
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1855
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1856
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1860
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1861
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1862
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1863
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1864
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1868
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1870
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1872
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1873
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Hamilton 1876
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1877
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1878
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 1879
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1880
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1883
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1884
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Sarah Elizabeth Robinson 1885
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1886
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1887
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1888
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1889
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1891
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1892
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1893
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1894
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1895
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1896
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1897
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1900
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1902
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1903
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1904
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1905
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1906
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1907
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1908
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1909
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1910
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1912
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1913
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1914
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1915
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 1916
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 1943
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 2050
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 2123
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 2124
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 2129
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 2130
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 2132
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 2133
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Mary Robinson 2134
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2160
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2167
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2169
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2171
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2183
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2184
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2190
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2191
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2195
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2198
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2200
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to James Beattie 2201
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 2546
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 2547
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 2550
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 2556
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 2557
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 2665
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 2666
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 2673
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 2774
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3087
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3088
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3089
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3090
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3092
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3093
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3096
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3097
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3098
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3100
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3103
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3104
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3105
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3109
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3111
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3113
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3114
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3115
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3120
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3121
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3122
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3123
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3124
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3125
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3127
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3128
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3129
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3130
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3131
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3132
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3133
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Morris Robinson 3134
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3262
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3263
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3264
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3265
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3268
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3269
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3270
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3297
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3298
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3319
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3358
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3359
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3364
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3405
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3407
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3408
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Hester Thrale Piozzi 3434
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3538
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3542
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3543
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3554
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3555
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3558
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3559
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3568
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3571
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3572
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 3574
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Frances Evelyn Boscawen (Glanville) 4006
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Frances Evelyn Boscawen (Glanville) 4060
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Charles Robinson 4193
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Sarah Hougham Robinson 4194
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Sarah Hougham Robinson 4195
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Sarah Hougham Robinson 4196
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Charles Robinson 4197
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Sarah Hougham Robinson 4198
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Sarah Hougham Robinson 4199
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Sarah Hougham Robinson 4202
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 4207
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Elizabeth Carter 4208
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to John Burrows 4530
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to John Burrows 4531
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to John Burrows 4532
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to John Burrows 4533
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to John Burrows 4534
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to John Burrows 4535
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to John Burrows 4537
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Culling Smith 4538
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to John Burrows 4539

Recipient of 175 letters

Showing transcribed and un-transcribed letters | show transcribed only

Title Sent Received EMCO ID
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu Sept. 20, 1790 3832
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu Sept. 22, 1790 3833
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu Sept. 27, 1790 3834
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu Oct. 3, 1790 3841
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu Oct. 12, 1790 3842
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu Oct. 18, 1790 3843
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu Oct. 20, 1790 3844
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu 0/0/1790 3845
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu 0/0/1790 3846
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu May 22, 1789 3893
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Montagu and Elizabeth (Charlton) Montagu May 27, 1789 3896
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu May 28, 1789 3897
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu June 1, 1789 3898
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu June 3, 1789 3899
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu June 4, 1789 3901
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu June 7, 1789 3903
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu June 11, 1789 3906
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu June 17, 1789 3907
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu June 19, 1789 3910
Letter from Elizabeth Montagu to Matthew Robinson Montagu July 5, 1789 3911

Please note that all dates and location information are provisional, initially taken from the library and archive catalogues. As our section editors continue to work through the material we will update our database and the changes will be reflected across the edition.

Browser support: The website works best using the Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browsers on the PC, and only Chrome and Firefox on the Mac.