(attr.)) He was born
John Brudenell, the eldest son of
George Brudenell, 4th Earl of Cardigan, by his wife
Mary, daughter of
John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu. As heir-apparent to the
Earldom of Cardigan, he was styled
Lord Brudenell from birth. He was educated at
Eton College, which he entered in 1748. In 1749 the Duke of Montagu died, and his son-in-law Lord Cardigan inherited his estates. He and his children duly adopted the surname Montagu in lieu of that of Brudenell. One of the Montagu family titles was revived in the person of Lord Brudenell when he was created
Baron Montagu of Boughton, of
Boughton in the
county of Northampton, on 8 May 1762. The Earl of Cardigan was created first
Duke of Montagu of the second creation on 5 November 1766, and his son assumed the courtesy title
Marquess of Monthermer. Prior to his elevation to the peerage, Lord Brudenell was briefly a
Tory Member of Parliament for
Marlborough, sitting for the borough along with his uncle Colonel
Robert Brudenell. In 1764 his portrait was painted by
Pompeo Batoni. Lord Monthermer died on 11 April 1770 at the age of thirty-five, unmarried. As he left no children, his barony of Montagu became extinct, but was recreated for his father on 21 August 1786, with remainder to the younger sons of his sister
Elizabeth, Duchess of Buccleuch. ==References==