Duke of Manchester

A carte-de-visite portrait of the Duke of Manchester (1823-1892).

William Drogo Montagu was born at Kimbolton Castle on 15 October 1823, the eldest son of George Montagu, 6th Duke of Manchester. He was known as Lord Kimbolton from 1823 to 1843 and as Viscount Mandeville from 1843 to 1855.

He was the M.P. (Conservative) for Bewdley from 1847 to 1852 and for Huntingdonshire from 1852 to 1855. He succeeded his father on 18 August 1855, taking his seat in the House of Lords as 7th Duke of Manchester.

He married Countess Luise Friederike Auguste von Alten, daughter of Karl Franz Viktor, Graf von Alten of Hanover, in Hanover on 22 July 1852. They had five children.

He died of peritonitis and dysentry in Naples on 22 March 1890.

Photographed by Camille Silvy of London in 1860.