Charles Greville Montagu

All you want to know about Charles Greville Montagu

Lord Charles Greville Montagu (1741-1784) was Royal Governor of South Carolina from 1766 to 1773, with William Bull II serving a term in 1768 and 1769-1771.^[1] Charles was the second son of His Grace, Robert Montagu, 3rd Duke of Manchester. Charles attended Oxford University in 1759 and married Ms. Elizabeth Balmer in 1765. He was also a Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire from 1762-1765.

The British Stamp Act made him unfavorable with the local colonials as governor, and led to his demise and disgrace during the American Revolution. He tried to be favorable with the colonials and American rebels, having pardoned some of the Regulators. However, it was not enough.

During the American Revolutionary War, Montagu began recruiting American prisoners captured by the British for the British war with Spanish forces, who were on the colonists side. Charles was captured recruiting soldiers on British Prisoner Ships in New York but was released by General Nathan Greene. Charles even tried to convince American General William Moultrie to join his regiment, but failed. Charles and his recruits made up the Duke of Cumberland's army regiment, and the outfit was discharged in 1783.

Charles made it to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with his family. He died soon afterwords and is buried there. He is buried at St Paul's Church in Halifax. His tomb states that he died in 3 Feb, 1784, still in his 40s. He was remembered as a good and brave man, who was loyal to his King and Country.