John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu
Encyclopedia
John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu (10 June 1866 – 30 March 1929), was a British Conservative
politician and promoter of motoring.
Montagu was the eldest son of Henry Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Beaulieu
, second son of Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch
. His mother was the Hon. Cecily Susan, daughter of John Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, 2nd Baron Wharncliffe
. He went to Eton College
where he rowed, and shot for his school at Wimbledon. He then went to New College, Oxford
and helped the New College boat to the Head of the River. He rowed for the Oxford Etonians in the 1887 Grand Challenge Cup
with Guy Nickalls
and Douglas McLean although without success. He worked for a year in the sheds of the London and South Western Railway
and became a practical engineer. Then he went round the world with his cousin, Lord Ancram, and his friend, Lord Ennismore.
Montagu entered Parliament for New Forest
in 1895, a seat he held until 1905, when he succeeded his father in the barony and entered the House of Lords
. During the First World War Montagu was an acting member of the War Aircraft Committee from March to April 1916 and an adviser on Mechanical Transport Services to the Indian government (with the rank of Honorary Brigadier-General). He is chiefly remembered as a promoter of motoring and was the founder and editor of The Car Illustrated magazine and a member of the Road Board.
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu married firstly Lady Cecil Victoria Constance, daughter of Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian
, in 1889. She died in September 1919, aged 53. He married secondly Alice Pearl, daughter of Major Edward Barrington Crake, in 1920. There were children from both marriages. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu died in March 1929, aged 62, and was succeeded in the barony by his only son, Edward
. Lady Montagu of Beaulieu later remarried and died in April 1996, aged 101.
During his first marriage Beaulieu had a child by his mistress and secretary Eleanor Thornton. Wanting an appropriate mascot for his Rolls-Royce
, and using Eleanor Velasco Thornton as a model, the sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes
was commissioned to design the precursor (called "The Whisperer") of the Spirit of Ecstasy
; the famous winged mascot that has adorned nearly every Rolls-Royce car since 1911.
On 30 December 1915, with his mistress Eleanor Thornton, Montagu was on board the SS Persia sailing through the Mediterranean
on the way to India
when the ship was torpedoed without warning by the German
U-boat
U-38
commanded by Max Valentiner
. Thornton was drowned, with hundreds of others, but Montagu survived the sinking.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and promoter of motoring.
Montagu was the eldest son of Henry Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Beaulieu
Henry Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Beaulieu
Henry John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Beaulieu DL JP , known as Lord Henry Scott until 1885, was a British Conservative Party politician....
, second son of Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch
Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch
Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch, 7th Duke of Queensberry KG, PC , styled Earl of Dalkeith between 1812 and 1819, was a British politician and nobleman.-Background and education:...
. His mother was the Hon. Cecily Susan, daughter of John Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, 2nd Baron Wharncliffe
John Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, 2nd Baron Wharncliffe
John Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, 2nd Baron Wharncliffe FRS , was a British Tory politician. He served briefly as Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies between December 1834 and January 1835.-Background:...
. He went to Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
where he rowed, and shot for his school at Wimbledon. He then went to New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
and helped the New College boat to the Head of the River. He rowed for the Oxford Etonians in the 1887 Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
with Guy Nickalls
Guy Nickalls
Guy Nickalls was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics as a member of the British eight that won gold, won 22 events at Henley Royal Regatta and won the Wingfield Sculls three times....
and Douglas McLean although without success. He worked for a year in the sheds of the London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
and became a practical engineer. Then he went round the world with his cousin, Lord Ancram, and his friend, Lord Ennismore.
Montagu entered Parliament for New Forest
New Forest (UK Parliament constituency)
New Forest was a county constituency in Hampshire which elected one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in 1895, a seat he held until 1905, when he succeeded his father in the barony and entered the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. During the First World War Montagu was an acting member of the War Aircraft Committee from March to April 1916 and an adviser on Mechanical Transport Services to the Indian government (with the rank of Honorary Brigadier-General). He is chiefly remembered as a promoter of motoring and was the founder and editor of The Car Illustrated magazine and a member of the Road Board.
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu married firstly Lady Cecil Victoria Constance, daughter of Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian
Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian
Schomberg Henry Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian KT, PC , styled Lord Schomberg Kerr until 1870, was a British diplomat and Conservative politician...
, in 1889. She died in September 1919, aged 53. He married secondly Alice Pearl, daughter of Major Edward Barrington Crake, in 1920. There were children from both marriages. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu died in March 1929, aged 62, and was succeeded in the barony by his only son, Edward
Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu
Edward John Barrington Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu is a British Conservative politician well known in Britain for founding the National Motor Museum, as well as for a pivotal cause célèbre in British gay history, his 1954 conviction and imprisonment for homosexual sex, a...
. Lady Montagu of Beaulieu later remarried and died in April 1996, aged 101.
During his first marriage Beaulieu had a child by his mistress and secretary Eleanor Thornton. Wanting an appropriate mascot for his Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
, and using Eleanor Velasco Thornton as a model, the sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes
Charles Robinson Sykes
Charles Robinson Sykes was an English sculptor, better known for designing the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot which is used on Rolls-Royce cars...
was commissioned to design the precursor (called "The Whisperer") of the Spirit of Ecstasy
Spirit of Ecstasy
The Spirit of Ecstasy is the name of the hood ornament on Rolls-Royce cars. It is in the form of a woman leaning forwards with her arms outstretched behind and above her...
; the famous winged mascot that has adorned nearly every Rolls-Royce car since 1911.
On 30 December 1915, with his mistress Eleanor Thornton, Montagu was on board the SS Persia sailing through the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
on the way to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
when the ship was torpedoed without warning by the German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
U-38
Unterseeboot 38 (1914)
SM U-38 was a German Type U 31 U-boat which operated in the Mediterranean Sea during World War I. It ended up being the third most successful u-boat participating in the war sinking 138 ships sunk for a total of 299.985 tons....
commanded by Max Valentiner
Max Valentiner
Captain Christian August Max Ahlmann Valentiner was a German U-boat commander during World War I.He was the third highest-scoring U-boat commander of the war, and was awarded the Pour le Mérite, the highest Prussian military order until the end of the war, for his achievements.He was also branded...
. Thornton was drowned, with hundreds of others, but Montagu survived the sinking.