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MONTAGU, Hon. Oliver (c.1655-89), of Hinchingbrooke, Hunts. and the Middle Temple.
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Constituency
Dates
Family and Education
b. c.1655, 3rd (twin) s. of Edward Montagu I, bro. of Hon. Charles Montagu, Edward Montagu, Visct. Hinchingbrooke, and Hon. Sidney Wortley Montagu. educ.Huntingdon g.s. by 1667; Westminster; Trinity Coll. Camb. 1672; M. Temple 1674, called 1681. unm.1
Offices Held
Bencher, M. Temple 1684, treas. 1686-7; KC 1685-d.; solicitor-gen. to Queen Mary of Modena 1685-Dec. 1688; recorder, Huntingdon 1686-Oct. 1688; j.p. Hunts. 1687-d.2
Biography
At the time of Montagu’s birth, his father stood high in the Protector’s favour. But despite a Christian name that grew desperately unfashionable after 1660, he became perhaps the most loyal of his family to the restored dynasty. On his father’s death in 1672, the Hon. William Montagu made himself responsible for his advancement. He took silk only three years after being called to the bar, and in the following year was returned for Huntingdon on the family interest. He was named to the committee of elections and privileges, and may have been an active Member of James II’s Parliament, with 13 other committees, including subjects of legal interest such as the continuance of expiring laws, the recovery of tithes, the reform of the bankruptcy laws and the establishment of a land registry. During the recess he was appointed solicitor-general to the Queen. In the second session, he may have been among the Members appointed to calculate the revenue arising from an import duty on French wines. In 1688 the lord lieutenant (Thomas Bruce) reported that he had given the King satisfaction over the repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws before going ‘far into the country’, and he was approved for re-election as a court candidate. Though he is unlikely to have stood for the Convention, he accepted the new regime and was reappointed KC, but died on 25 Dec. 1689.3