Social Victorians/People/Manchester

Overview

"England's Poorest Duke"

In his Rise and Fall of the British Aristocracy, David Cannadine describes the 8th and 9th Duke of Manchester's attempts to marry wealthy Americans:

Even poorer, and more reckless than the Marlboroughs, were the Dukes of Manchester. Both the eighth and the ninth Dukes went to the United States blatantly on the lookout [for wealthy heiresses]; both ensnared heiresses; but to little avail, either emotionally or financially. In 1876, the future eighth Duke married Consuelo Yznaga, the daughter of a wealthy Cuban-American. But even so, he went through the bankruptcy courts in 1889 with debts of £100,000, the very year before he succeeded to the title. He survived only until 1892, and his successor fared little better. He brazenly and systematically searched the United States for a rich wife, claiming that he must either marry an Astor or a Vanderbilt or throw in the towel; and his vigorous but unsuccessful pursuit of Mary Goelet led to denunciation in the American press: 'England's poorest Duke after our richest heiress', which put the matter precisely if not subtly. He was unsuccessful with her, but in 1900 managed to ensnare Helen Zimmerman, the daughter of a Cincinnati railroad mogul, who also had extensive stock holdings in standard oil, and interests in iron mining. Ironically, he, too, was declared bankrupt just before his wedding.

Also Known As

• Family name: Montagu
• Duke of Manchester
  • William Drogo Montagu, 7th Duke (18 August 1855 – 22 March 1890)
  • George Victor Drogo Montagu, 8th Duke (22 March 1890 – 18 August 1892)
  • William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke (18 August 1892 – 9 February 1947); he was 15.
• Duchess of Manchester
  • Luise Friederike Auguste Gräfin von Alten Montagu Cavendish (18 August 1855 – 22 March 1890)
  • María Consuelo Iznaga y Clement Montagu (22 March 1890 – 18 August 1892)
  • Helena Zimmerman Montagu (14 November 1900 – 15 December 1971)
• Dowager Duchess of Manchester
  • Luise Friederike Auguste Gräfin von Alten Montagu (22 March 1890 – 16 August 1892, her remarriage, when she became the Duchess of Devonshire; she died 15 November 1911)
  • María Consuelo Iznaga y Clement Montagu (18 August 1892 – 20 November 1909)
• The title Viscount Mandeville is a courtesy title for the heir presumptive and eldest son of the Duke of Manchester.
• Lord Kimbolton
  • William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke (1877 – 22 March 1890)

Timeline

1852 July 22, Luise Friederike Auguste Gräfin von Alten and William Drogo Montagu married.

1873 December 10, Mary Louise Elizabeth Montagu and William Douglas-Hamilton married.

1876 May 22, Consuelo Iznaga y Clement and George Victor Drogo Montagu married in Grace Church, New York City.

1876 August 10, Louisa Augusta Beatrice Montagu and Archibald Acheson married.

1881 December 5, John Lister-Kaye and Natica (Maria de la Natividad) Yznaga, Consuelo's sister, married in New York City.

1889 January 5, Alice Maude Olivia Montagu and Edward Stanley married.

1890 November 14, William Angus Drogo Montagu and Helena Zimmerman married secretly, in London.

1892 August 16, Luise Friederike Auguste Gräfin von Alten Montagu and Spencer Compton Cavendish, her second husband, married.

1897 June 28, Monday, according to the Morning Post, the Duke and Duchess of Manchester were invited to the 28 June Queen's Garden Party, the official end of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London. The Duchess of Manchester was Consuelo Montagu, mother of William Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester, who had not yet married.

1897 July 2, Friday, the Duchess of Manchester, her son the Duke of Manchester, and Lord Charles Montagu attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House. (Consuelo Montagu, Duchess of Manchester is #175 on the list of people who attended; William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester is #21; Lord Charles Montagu is #161.)

1900 November 14, William Angus Drogo Montagu and Helena Zimmerman married publicly.

1939 November 10, Charles William Augustus Montagu married Mildred Cecilia Harriet Sturt, his first and her third marriage.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

Both Consuelo Montagu, Duchess of Manchester and William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester (who is treated on his own page) attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, as did her brother in law, Lord Charles Montagu.

Cardinal de Richelieu et Anne d'Autriche, from the 1st half of the 19thc

Consuelo Montagu, Duchess of Manchester

Consuelo Iznaga Montagu, Duchess of Manchester sat at Table 7 in the first seating for supper:

• "Margaret of Orleans, impersonated by the Duchess of Manchester, in white satin and silver, was a great success."
• The Duchess of Manchester was dressed as Anne d'Autriche among the Visitors to the Court of Savoia in the 17th century procession.
• "The Duchess of Manchester was in white satin and silver of Margaret of Orleans period, and wore a diamond crown on her head."

Both the London Times and the Morning Post say that Consuelo, Duchess of Manchester was dressed as Anne d'Autriche; if she walked in the 17th-century procession, she could not have been Margaret of Orleans, which is who the Gentlewoman and the Guernsey Star identify her to be. Marguerite d'Orléans (4 December 1406 – 1466) was 15th century. Anne d'Autriche (22 September 1601 – 20 January 1666) was Queen of France, married to Louis XIII and regent and mother of Louis XIV.

The portrait of Anne d'Autriche (right) is 19th century and shows her in a white dress, although there is no way to know if this portrait is the original of Consuelo, Duchess of Manchester's costume or even if she saw it. The painting is one of 6 by the same painter (currently anonymous) and in a private collection, having been sold possibly from a private Swiss collection in auction by an anonymous seller in 2013.

Lord Charles Montagu

Charles I, King of England at the Hunt by Anthony van Dyck, c. 1635

Lord Charles Montagu in costume as King Charles I and Mildred, Lady Montagu in costume as an Italian Flower girl. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Lord Charles Montagu, brother of the 8th Duke of Manchester, so Consuelo's brother in law, sat at Table 5 in the first supper seating.

Lafayette's portrait of "Lord Charles William Augustus Montagu as King Charles I and Mildred Cecilia Harriet, Lady Montagu as an Italian Flower girl" in costume is photogravure #209 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "Lord Charles Montagu as King Charles I. Lady Chelsea as an Italian Flower girl." Although they are together in this portrait, Lord Charles Montagu and Hon. Mildred Cecilia Harriet Sturt were not to marry until 1930.

The portrait in the album at the National Portrait Gallery includes Lord Charles Montagu and Mildred Cadogan, Viscountess Chelsea. The Van Dyck portrait (right) of Charles I may be the original for Lord Montagu's costume, even though they are not identical. The white doublet, crimson breeches, and large-brim hat with a white feather plume are parallel.

Newspaper Descriptions of His Costume

Lord Charles Montagu was dressed

• "as Charles I. after the picture by Van Dyck."
• "Lord Charles Montagu was a Vandyck portrait of Charles I. in white satin doublet and red velvet breeches."
• "after the picture by Vandyke, doublet of white satin; large Vandyke collar and cuffs; crimson velvet breeches; high cavalier buff boots, with gold spurs; beaver hat and while curling feather; blue ribbon of the Garter."

Other Members of This Family

Alice Maude Olivia Montagu

Alice Maude Olivia Montagu and Edward Stanley married in 1889; she (at 157) and he (at 188) were present at the ball and are discussed on the Stanley page.

Lady Alice Eleanor Louise Montagu

Lady Alice Eleanor Louise Montagu (at 292) was dressed as Laura in the Italian procession, escorted by Lord Stavordale as Petrarch (at 78) and is discussed on the Montagu page.

Demographics

Nationality:

• Luise Friederike Auguste Gräfin von Alten Montagu Cavendish was German-born.
• Consuelo Iznaga y Clement was Cuban-American.
• Helena Zimmerman was American.
• George, William and Alexander Montagu were English.

Residences

• Duke of Manchester's estate: Tandragee Castle, County Armagh, Ireland

Family

• Louisa, Duchess of Manchester, Luise Friederike Auguste Gräfin von Alten Montagu Cavendish (15 January 1832 – 15 November 1911)
• William Drogo Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester (15 October 1823 – 22 March 1890)

1. George Victor Drogo Montagu, 8th Duke of Manchester (17 June 1853 – 18 August 1892)
2. Mary Louise [Louisa?] Elizabeth Montagu Douglas-Hamilton Forster (27 December 1854 – 10 February 1934)
3. Louisa Augusta Beatrice Montagu Acheson (c. 1856 – 3 March 1944)
4. Charles William Augustus Montagu (23 November 1860 – 10 November 1939)
5. Alice Maude Olivia Montagu Stanley (15 August 1862 – 23 July 1957)

• Spencer Compton Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire (earlier Lord Hartington), her second husband (and the reason she was called the Double Duchess)

• Charles William Augustus Montagu (23 November 1860 – 10 November 1939)
• Hon. Mildred Cecilia Harriet Sturt (27 February 1869 – 17 September 1942)

• María Consuelo Iznaga y Clement, Duchess of Manchester (1853 – 20 November 1909), née Doña María Consuelo Iznaga y Clement
• George Victor Drogo Montagu, 8th Duke of Manchester (17 June 1853 – 18 August 1892)

1. William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester (3 March 1877 – 9 February 1947)
2. Jacqueline Mary Alva Montagu (27 November 1879 – 15 March 1895)
3. Alice Eleanor Louise Montagu (27 November 1879 – 10 January 1900)

• William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester (3 March 1877 – 9 February 1947)
• Helena Zimmerman Montagu ( – 15 December 1971)

1. Mary Alice Montagu Gregory (26 October 1901 – 9 October 1962)
2. Alexander George Francis Drogo Montagu, 10th Duke of Manchester (2 October 1902 – 23 November 1977)
3. Edward Eugene Fernando Montagu (26 July 1906 – 4 May 1954/1956)
4. Ellen Millicent Louise Montagu Hofer Shairp (5 January 1908 – 2 August 1948)

Relations

• Consuelo Iznaga, Duchess of Manchester, Maria Yznaga Lister-Kaye, and Emilia Yznaga were sisters, daughters of Antonio Modesto Yznaga del Valle and Ellen Maria Clement.
• Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough was named for her godmother, Maria Consuelo Iznaga y Clement Montagu, Duchess of Manchester.

Notes and Questions

1. Consuelo, mother of William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke was still Duchess of Manchester in 1897, during the ball. Because the 8th Duke had died, she was technically Dowager Duchess, but no other woman was officially duchess. Twenty-year-old William Angus Drogo Montagu had married in 1890 secretly. The Duchess of Manchester was in the first supper seating, suggesting that she was in the Prince and Princess of Wales' inner circles; William, Duke of Manchester is not listed as having been in the first supper seating; he was part of the party that greeted guests as they arrived. Also, she would have been invited because she was Louisa, Duchess of Devonshire's daughter in law.
2. Luise Friederike Auguste Gräfin von Alten Montagu Cavendish was called the Double Duchess after she married Spencer Compton Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire, having first been the Duchess of Manchester.
3. Charles William Augustus Montagu was Hon. Mildred Cecilia Harriet Sturt's third husband, marrying in 1930 although they are in the same portrait in the Album (#209). She is called Lady Montagu here because the National Portrait Gallery is using her most recent title; she was Lady Chelsea in 1897. This portrait suggests that possibly their relationship had begun long before 1930.
4. Consuelo Iznaga Montagu, Duchess of Manchester is #175 on the list of people who attended the Duchess of Devonshire's ball in 1897.