MONTAGU, RALPH, 1ST DUKE OF (c. 1638-1709), Eng lish diplomatist, was the second son of Edward, 2nd Baron Montagu of Boughton (1616-84), whose peerage was one of several granted in the 17th century to different members of the Montagu family (q.v.). Appointed master of the horse to Queen Catherine, wife of Charles II., he soon acquired a reputation for gallantry at the court. He took an active part in the negotiations in which Louis XIV. purchased the neutrality of England in the war between France and Holland. In 1678 he was elected mem ber of parliament for Northampton, but on the dissolution of parliament attempted unsuccessfully to fly to France. He sup ported the movement for excluding the duke of York from the succession and for recognizing Monmouth as heir. His elder brother having predeceased his father, Ralph became Baron Montagu of Boughton on the death of the latter in 1684. Not withstanding his former intrigues he gained the favour of James II. on his accession to the throne, but this did not deter him
from welcoming William of Orange, who created him Viscount Monthermer and earl of Montagu in 1689. His position was further strengthened in 1705 by the marriage of his son to Mary, daughter of the great duke of Marlborough. In the same year he was raised to the dukedom as duke of Montagu and marquess of Monthermer. He died on March 9, 1709. His London resi dence, Montagu House, Bloomsbury, was bought by the govern ment in 1753 to hold the national collection of antiquities, and on its site was built the British Museum. At the death of his son John in 1749, the title became extinct.
See A. Boyer, History of the Reign of Queen Anne, vol. viii. (17o3 13) ; Burke, Genealogical History of Dormant (etc.) Peerages (1883) ; and article in Dict. Nat. Biog.