Alexander Montgomery (1720–1800)
Encyclopedia
Colonel Alexander John Montgomery (1720 – 29 September 1800) was an Irish politician.
He was born in 1720, the eldest son of Thomas Montgomery
, M.P. for Lifford
, and his wife Mary Franklin. His youngest brother was the famous American Revolution war-hero, Major-General Richard Montgomery
.
He was elected Member of Parliament
as an Independent for County Donegal
in the General Election of 1768 and represented that constituency until August 1800. He was also High Sheriff of Donegal
in 1773.
He had two nicknames. He was first called "Black Montgomery" because of a scalping incident in the Seven Years War in Canada and later in life he was called "Old Sandy" to distinguish him from his cousin Alexander Montgomery (died 1785)
(Young Sandy) who was a year younger and who represented County Monaghan
in the Irish Parliament at the same time as Old Sandy.
He was a captain in the British Army
's 43rd Regiment of Foot, which served in America. His regiment was part of General James Wolfe
's attack on French Quebec in 1759. Lieutenant Malcolm Fraser of the 48th Regiment of Foot assserted that on 23 August 1759, his detachment was brought under the command of Alexander Montgomery for an attack on a village near Saint-Joachim
. Fraser states in his journal: Montgomery resigned from the British Army in 1763 because a junior officer was promoted over him. He was also a Colonel in the Raphoe
Battalion of the Volunteers and was their delegate at the Dungannon Convention.
Montgomery won his last election in 1797 by releasing Republican freeholders from Lifford Gaol to vote for him. He joined the Royal Dublin Society
in 1773.
Montgomery was noted for his duelling. Among his opponents was Francis Mansfield, the High Sheriff of Donegal in 1788. On one occasion while duelling in the bishop's garden in Derry
, his opponent's first pistol-round shot off the tails of Montgomery's swallow-tailed coat. Undeterred, Montgomery finished the duel sitting in a chair in order to conceal his bare posterior. In 1797 he won a duel with a Donegal loyalist and was carried home in triumph to Convoy by the United Irishmen.
Montgomery was suspect in government circles. In 1773 he was described as "extremely popular and very flighty". "The Irish Parliament 1775" states- "Lord Townshend attempted, and Lord Harcourt obtained for him in Council a Port of Discharge at Letterkenny. He came into Parliament upon Popular Ground in the County. He stands by & court the Government his Support but even after all that has been done his support is very doubtfull. However during the last Session he was pretty steady. Mr. Montgomery has got to his Recommendation Two Boatmen, a Tidewaiter Surveyor of the Lough Swilley Barge and a Hearth Money Collection". Sketches of the Members of the Irish Parliament in 1782 stated- "Alexander Montgomery Esq., member for Donegall County has a good estate in this county-brother to the rebel Montgomery who was killed at Quebec-concerned much in the North-West Fisheries-an impracticable and dangerous man-an advocate for Mr. Flood's doctrine of Renunciation. It is supposed he will leave his fortune to one of Lord Ranelagh's children, to whom his sister is married. Lord Carlisle obliged him by allowing him to name some officers in the Port of Ballyraine, for which favour he often supported". He was vehemently opposed to the 1800 Act of Union between Ireland and Great Britain and voted against it.
He died unmarried on 29 September 1800, at the age of 80, before the Act of Union became law and on his tombstone in Raphoe Churchyard is inscribed: "Sacred to the memory of Alex Montgomery of Convoy who represented this once Independent county in Parliament for 32 years."
He was born in 1720, the eldest son of Thomas Montgomery
Thomas Montgomery (politician)
Thomas Montgomery was an Irish politician.He was born in 1700 to Colonel Alexander Montgomery M.P. for County Monaghan, of Ballyleck, County Monaghan, and Elizabeth Cole, , daughter of Colonel Thomas Cole of Mount Florence, Florencecourt, County Fermanagh...
, M.P. for Lifford
Lifford
Lifford is the county town of County Donegal, Ireland. It is the administrative capital of the county and the seat of Donegal County Council, although the town of Letterkenny is often mistaken for fulfilling this role...
, and his wife Mary Franklin. His youngest brother was the famous American Revolution war-hero, Major-General Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery was an Irish-born soldier who first served in the British Army. He later became a brigadier-general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and he is most famous for leading the failed 1775 invasion of Canada.Montgomery was born and raised in Ireland...
.
He was elected Member of Parliament
Parliament of Ireland
The Parliament of Ireland was a legislature that existed in Dublin from 1297 until 1800. In its early mediaeval period during the Lordship of Ireland it consisted of either two or three chambers: the House of Commons, elected by a very restricted suffrage, the House of Lords in which the lords...
as an Independent for County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
in the General Election of 1768 and represented that constituency until August 1800. He was also High Sheriff of Donegal
High Sheriff of Donegal
The High Sheriff of Donegal was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Donegal, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Donegal County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and...
in 1773.
He had two nicknames. He was first called "Black Montgomery" because of a scalping incident in the Seven Years War in Canada and later in life he was called "Old Sandy" to distinguish him from his cousin Alexander Montgomery (died 1785)
Alexander Montgomery (died 1785)
General Alexander Montgomery MP for County Monaghan, Ireland from 1743-1760 & from August 1768 -1783. He succeeded his elder brother John Montgomery as M.P. for County Monaghan. He was a General of Volunteers...
(Young Sandy) who was a year younger and who represented County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
in the Irish Parliament at the same time as Old Sandy.
He was a captain in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's 43rd Regiment of Foot, which served in America. His regiment was part of General James Wolfe
James Wolfe
Major General James P. Wolfe was a British Army officer, known for his training reforms but remembered chiefly for his victory over the French in Canada...
's attack on French Quebec in 1759. Lieutenant Malcolm Fraser of the 48th Regiment of Foot assserted that on 23 August 1759, his detachment was brought under the command of Alexander Montgomery for an attack on a village near Saint-Joachim
Saint-Joachim, Quebec
Saint-Joachim is a parish municipality in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality in the Capitale-Nationale region. Located at the foot of Cape Tourmente, it is home to the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area....
. Fraser states in his journal: Montgomery resigned from the British Army in 1763 because a junior officer was promoted over him. He was also a Colonel in the Raphoe
Raphoe
Raphoe is a town in County Donegal, part of the province of Ulster in Ireland. It is the main town in the fertile district of East Donegal known as the Laggan, as well as giving its name to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe and the Church of Ireland Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.-Name:Raphoe,...
Battalion of the Volunteers and was their delegate at the Dungannon Convention.
Montgomery won his last election in 1797 by releasing Republican freeholders from Lifford Gaol to vote for him. He joined the Royal Dublin Society
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
in 1773.
Montgomery was noted for his duelling. Among his opponents was Francis Mansfield, the High Sheriff of Donegal in 1788. On one occasion while duelling in the bishop's garden in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, his opponent's first pistol-round shot off the tails of Montgomery's swallow-tailed coat. Undeterred, Montgomery finished the duel sitting in a chair in order to conceal his bare posterior. In 1797 he won a duel with a Donegal loyalist and was carried home in triumph to Convoy by the United Irishmen.
Montgomery was suspect in government circles. In 1773 he was described as "extremely popular and very flighty". "The Irish Parliament 1775" states- "Lord Townshend attempted, and Lord Harcourt obtained for him in Council a Port of Discharge at Letterkenny. He came into Parliament upon Popular Ground in the County. He stands by & court the Government his Support but even after all that has been done his support is very doubtfull. However during the last Session he was pretty steady. Mr. Montgomery has got to his Recommendation Two Boatmen, a Tidewaiter Surveyor of the Lough Swilley Barge and a Hearth Money Collection". Sketches of the Members of the Irish Parliament in 1782 stated- "Alexander Montgomery Esq., member for Donegall County has a good estate in this county-brother to the rebel Montgomery who was killed at Quebec-concerned much in the North-West Fisheries-an impracticable and dangerous man-an advocate for Mr. Flood's doctrine of Renunciation. It is supposed he will leave his fortune to one of Lord Ranelagh's children, to whom his sister is married. Lord Carlisle obliged him by allowing him to name some officers in the Port of Ballyraine, for which favour he often supported". He was vehemently opposed to the 1800 Act of Union between Ireland and Great Britain and voted against it.
He died unmarried on 29 September 1800, at the age of 80, before the Act of Union became law and on his tombstone in Raphoe Churchyard is inscribed: "Sacred to the memory of Alex Montgomery of Convoy who represented this once Independent county in Parliament for 32 years."