John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich

Who is John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich?

John Edward Hollister Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich is a British entrepreneur, politician and nobleman.

Montagu is the eldest son of Victor Montagu, who disclaimed the earldom of Sandwich in 1964, and his first wife Maud Rosemary. He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1995 and is one of the ninety elected hereditary peers that remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999. He sits as a cross-bencher and speaks mainly on international development and asylum issues.

Taking advantage of the fame of one of his ancestors, John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, who is the man known for popularizing the sandwich in Great Britain in the 18th century, he opened a sandwich shop, Earl of Sandwich. It has a location at Downtown Disney Marketplace in Walt Disney World Resort. The restaurant is a collaboration between him and Robert Earl, founder of the Planet Hollywood chain.

Lord Sandwich married Caroline, daughter of Reverend Perceval Hayman, on 1 July 1968. Lady Sandwich is a former business journalist and policy expert at the European Commission, specialising in the Middle East. She is a committee member of a number of organisations promoting links with the region, including the Saudi British Society. She is a senior adviser for Women in Business International. Lady Sandwich is active in a number of organisations in Dorset, including the Heritage Lottery Fund’s South West Committee, the Beaminster Festival, and serves as President of the Dorset Natural History & Archaeological Society.