John Montagu

Who was John Montagu?

John Montagu or Mountague was the fourth son of the renowned admiral, Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich, killed at the Battle of Solebay. John may have been provided with the mastership of Trinity College, Cambridge, as a reward for his father's service.

He entered Trinity College, Cambridge as a fellow-commoner on 12 April 1672, proceeded MA. jure natalium, 1673 and was elected a fellow in 1674. In 1680, he was made master of Sherburn Hospital by his relative Bishop Crewe, and in 1683 a prebend of Durham. On 12 May 1683 King James also made him Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. In 27 September 1686, he was awarded a Doctorate by Royal mandate. He was promoted to Vice-chancellor in 1687. In either 1699 or 1700, he resigned the mastership of Trinity and became Dean of Durham, which he kept until his death in 1728. Montagu was admitted a member of the Gentlemen's Society at Spalding on 22 August 1723. He died unmarried, at his house in Bedford Row, Holborn, London, on 23 February 1728, aged 73, and was interred at Barnwell, Northamptonshire, the burying-place of his family.