Alexander Montagu, 13th Duke of Manchester
Encyclopedia
Alexander Charles David Drogo Montagu, 13th Duke of Manchester (born 11 December 1962) is an Australia
n-born hereditary peer
of the Peerage of Great Britain
.
and his first wife, Mary Eveleen née McClure (now Mary, Lady Angus Montagu) of Geelong in Victoria
, Australia
. Both his mother and paternal grandmother were born in Australia.
in California
. The couple were divorced in 2007. They had two children:
In July 2011, the High Court
recognized the children of the marriage as legitimate for the purpose of sharing in a family trust fund. Mr Justice Floyd
said in his decision that the laws of Australia, California and England all allowed the children of bigamous marriages to be treated as legitimate and concluded: "Alexander and Ashley acquired the status of legitimacy by reason of the law of the domicile of each of their parents. That is the case whether the 13th Duke was domiciled in England, in Australia or in California."
, California
.
Dukes in all of the peerage
s of the British Isles
are formally styled His Grace and in heraldic language are formally designated the Most High, Potent and Noble Prince. His Grace (reference style) or Your Grace (spoken style) is used. Most High, Potent and Noble Prince is used only in formal documents prepared by the College of Arms
.
The Duke has at times used the alternative yet incorrect style of Lord Alex. Younger sons of a British duke have the right to be styled Lord.
. In 1985 he was sentenced to three years imprisonment in Australia for fraud, however he was released the following year. He was deported from Canada for entering the country illegally. In 1991, Viscount Mandeville offered to sell his title, despite having no peerage title then and it not being possible to sell a hereditary peerage.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born hereditary peer
Hereditary peer
Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...
of the Peerage of Great Britain
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
.
Parents
The Duke was born to Angus Montagu, 12th Duke of ManchesterAngus Montagu, 12th Duke of Manchester
Angus Charles Drogo Montagu, 12th Duke of Manchester, etc. , was a British hereditary peer, the son of the 10th Duke of Manchester, and the younger brother of the 11th Duke....
and his first wife, Mary Eveleen née McClure (now Mary, Lady Angus Montagu) of Geelong in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Both his mother and paternal grandmother were born in Australia.
First marriage
In 1984, he married Marion Stoner. The couple were divorced in 1996. She is now Marion, Viscountess Mandeville.Second marriage
In 1993, being Viscount Mandeville, he married Wendy Dawn Buford, the daughter of Michael Buford of Anaheim HillsAnaheim Hills, Anaheim, California
Anaheim Hills is a planned community encompassing the eastern portions of the city of Anaheim, in Orange County, California.- Location :Anaheim Hills is located just south of Yorba Linda, California, opposite the 91 freeway at Imperial Highway. The western border is the 55 freeway opposite the...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The couple were divorced in 2007. They had two children:
- Alexander Michael Charles David Francis George Edward William Kimble Drogo Montagu, Viscount Mandeville (b. 13 May 1993), until 2002 Lord Kimbolton
- Lady Ashley Faith Maxine Nell Montagu (b. 16 June 1999)
In July 2011, the High Court
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
recognized the children of the marriage as legitimate for the purpose of sharing in a family trust fund. Mr Justice Floyd
Christopher Floyd
Sir Christopher David Floyd , styled The Hon. Mr Justice Floyd, is an English barrister and judge. He has served as a Justice of the High Court's Chancery Division since 2007.-Career:...
said in his decision that the laws of Australia, California and England all allowed the children of bigamous marriages to be treated as legitimate and concluded: "Alexander and Ashley acquired the status of legitimacy by reason of the law of the domicile of each of their parents. That is the case whether the 13th Duke was domiciled in England, in Australia or in California."
Third marriage
On 21 September 2007, being the Duke of Manchester, he married Laura Smith, the daughter of Marvin Smith of Laguna BeachLaguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach is a seaside resort city and artist community located in southern Orange County, California, United States, approximately southwest of the county seat of Santa Ana...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Titles and styles
- 1962–1985: Alexander Montagu
- 1985–2002: Viscount Mandeville (courtesy titleCourtesy titleA courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
as heir to the 12th Duke) - 2002–: His Grace the Duke of ManchesterDuke of ManchesterDuke of Manchester is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1719 for the politician Charles Montagu, 4th Earl of Manchester, who notably served as Secretary of State for the Southern Department. The Duke of Manchester is styled His Grace.-Origin and descent:The Montagu family...
Dukes in all of the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
s of the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
are formally styled His Grace and in heraldic language are formally designated the Most High, Potent and Noble Prince. His Grace (reference style) or Your Grace (spoken style) is used. Most High, Potent and Noble Prince is used only in formal documents prepared by the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.
The Duke has at times used the alternative yet incorrect style of Lord Alex. Younger sons of a British duke have the right to be styled Lord.
Legal issues
In 1984, Alexander Montagu was convicted by a court in Melbourne of assault with a speargunSpeargun
A speargun is an underwater fishing implement designed to fire a spear at fish.The basic components of a speargun are:A spear, a stock/barrel, and a handle/grip containing a trigger mechanism...
. In 1985 he was sentenced to three years imprisonment in Australia for fraud, however he was released the following year. He was deported from Canada for entering the country illegally. In 1991, Viscount Mandeville offered to sell his title, despite having no peerage title then and it not being possible to sell a hereditary peerage.