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JOURNAL OF CONCHOLOGY. 



Vol. 12. JULY, 1908. No. 7. 



COLONEL GEORGE MONTAGU. 



By E. W. SWANTON. 



(Read before the Society, February 13th, 1907). 



It seems fitting that a biographical notice of Colonel George Montagu 

 — "one of the most eminent practical naturalists of his age," and one 

 who did so much to advance the study of conchology in this country 

 — should be given in \.\\t Journal of Conchology. The only important 

 notice of him that I can find appeared in the third volume of the 

 Wiltshire Magazine. It was written by Mr. William Cunnington, 

 F.G.S., who personally took much interest in the natural history of 

 Wilts, and whose daughter placed a collection of Wilts MoUusca in 

 the museum at Devizes. The short biography of Montagu in the 

 Dictionary of National Biography differs in some important particulars 

 from that by Mr. Cunnington, e.g., it states that he was born in the 

 year 1751, but Mr. Cunnington gives 1755. We may, with confidence, 

 consider Mr. Cunnington's memoir the more trustworthy of the two, 

 for that gentleman expressly remarks that he was indebted to the 

 kindness of Mrs. L. M. Crawford, the daughter of Colonel Montagu, 

 for many of the particulars therein given. It is from this memoir that 

 I have obtained many of the following particulars. 



The Montagu family is of ancient lineage, and it is of interest to 

 note, in the pedigree which prefixes Mr. Cunnington's memoir, that 

 for many generations long families have been the rule. 



The Hon. James Montagu (third son of Henry, first Earl of Man- 

 chester, ob. 1665) had thirteen children. His grandson James had 

 nine, and his great-grandson James — who married Elinor, the only 

 surviving daughter of William Hedges, of Alderton Hall— also had 

 thirteen in family, the ninth child and fourth son being George 

 Montagu, the famous conchologist. 



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