Background
He was born George Brudenell at Cardigan House, Lincoln"s Inn Fields, in London, the eldest son of George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan and his wife Lady Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of Thomas Bruce, 3rd Earl of Elgin.
He was born George Brudenell at Cardigan House, Lincoln"s Inn Fields, in London, the eldest son of George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan and his wife Lady Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of Thomas Bruce, 3rd Earl of Elgin.
He matriculated at Queen"s College, Oxford on 1 July 1726 and graduated from there on 31 January 1729 with a Master of Arts degree.
He was baptised on 1 August 1712 at Street Giles-in-the-Fields. He was the elder brother of James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan, the Honourable Robert Brudenell and Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury. Brudenell succeeded his father in the earldom 1732.
In 1742 he was appointed Justice in Eyre north of the Trent, a post he held until 1752.
In 1752 he was made a Knight of the Garter and made Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle, which he remained until his death. In 1766 he was created Marquess of Monthermer and Duke of Montagu, revivals of the titles which had become extinct on his father-in-law"s death.
He was sworn of the Privy Council the same year. He later served as Master of the Horse from 1780 to 1790 and as Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire from 1789 to 1790.
Montagu married Lady Mary Montagu, daughter of John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu (of the first creation), on 7 July 1730 at Street Giles-in-the-Fields.
They had two children who survived infancy:
John Montagu, Marquess of Monthermer and 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton (18 March 1735-1711 April 1770)
Lady Elizabeth Montagu (29 May 1743-1721 November 1827), who married Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch and had issue. The Duchess of Montagu died in May 1775. The Duke of Montagu died at Privy Gardens, Whitehall, London, in May 1790, aged 77, without surviving male issue.
Royal Society.