Edward
Montagu, the son of the Earl of Manchester, was
born in 1602. A member of the royal court, Montagu was given the title,
Baron Montagu of Kimbolton in 1626.
In the
House of Lords, Montagu, a Puritan,
became increasing critical of Charles
I.
In 1642 he was impeached by the king for treachery but was acquitted.
Later that year he inherited his father's title and became the 2nd
Earl of Manchester.
On the
outbreak of the Civil
War Montagu
he served under Robert Devereux, 3rd
Earl of Essex, at Edgehill
(1642) before
being given command of the Eastern Counties army. His forces took
Lincoln before defeating Prince
Rupert at
Marston
Moor (1644).
He also led the Parliamentary army at Newbury.
In November
1644, Oliver
Cromwell
made a speech in the House of Commons where he attacked the leadership
of the Earl of Manchester. In April 1645 he resigned from the army.
The Earl
of Manchester opposed the trial and execution of Charles
I and
was also critical of the rule of Oliver
Cromwell.
When he refused to swear an oath of loyalty to the Commonwealth
he was forced
to retire from public life.
In 1660
he supported General George
Monck in
in promoting the Restoration
of the monarchy.
In an attempt to gain the good will of the Presbyterians,
the Earl of Manchester was appointed Lord Chamberlain in 1660. Edward
Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, died in 1671.
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