Lieutenant General Sir Charles Montague KB

1760-1777

Sir Charles Montague was the son of Brigadier General Edward Montague, Colonel of the Eleventh Foot, and Governor of Hull. He had an elder brother, Edward, killed at the battle of Fontenoy, being then Lieutenant Colonel of the Thirty-first Foot.

He began his military career on 6^th July 1739 when he obtained a commission as Ensign in the regiment which subsequently became the 11^th of Foot (“the Bloody Eleventh”). King George I had strongly opposed the practice whereby commissions could be bought and sold, but opposition from officers and ministers alike obliged him to authorise an official scale. For example, an Ensignancy cost £200, a full Colonelcy £6000. Young Charles Montague must have enjoyed ample financial resources because, within six years of entering the army, he was Lieutenant Colonel commanding his regiment.

Wounded at the Battle of Fontenoy (30^th April 1745), he was fortunate to escape with his life. He continued in regimental employment until 1756 when he acquired the Colonelcy of the 61^st of Foot. Promoted to Major General and transferring to The Queen’s in 1760, he held this Colonelcy for the remainder of his life. His final promotion to Lieutenant General came on 19th January 1761, and he died on 1^st August 1777.

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