Alexander Montgomery (1667–1722)

Colonel Alexander Montgomery (1667 – 25 March 1722) was an Irish soldier and MP.

Alexander Montgomery
Member of Parliament
for County Monaghan
In office
1713–1722
Preceded byWilliam Barton
Succeeded byThomas Coote
Personal details
Born1667
Ballyleck, Monaghan
Died25 March 1722 (aged 54 or 55)
Ballyleck, Monaghan
NationalityIrish
Political partyWhig[1]
SpouseElizabeth Cole
Children7, including Thomas and John
Alma materTrinity College Dublin
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionSoldier

His father was Major John Montgomery of Crogan, County Donegal. Alexander joined the British Army and was promoted a captain of the Inniskilling Dragoons in 1689, a major in 1704 and a lieutenant colonel in 1706. He was a captain of dragoons in the Monaghan Militia in 1708.

He was appointed High Sheriff of County Monaghan for 1718 and elected M.P. for County Monaghan, sitting from 1713 to 1722.

He married Elizabeth Cole, the daughter of Thomas Cole, Esquire of Mount Florence, County Fermanagh. Elizabeth's dowry was the Ballyleck estate in County Monaghan, where Colonel Montgomery then took up residence, thus founding the line of Montgomery of Ballyleck. They had four sons and three daughters, viz.

Montgomery died on 15 March 1722 and his will dated 28 August 1721 was proved on 6 July 1722. He disinherited Thomas, his eldest son, for marrying without consent and left Ballyleck to his second son, John.

The Montgomery Manuscripts written in 1704[2] states

"Alexander Montgomery is the second grandson of Reverend Alexander Montgomery, Prebendary of Doe, County Donegal. He was a Captain in ye 3rd regiment, and now in 1704 a major because it was not reduced: married Captain Coles (in ye County of Monaghan) his daughter and heiress, and now lives within two miles of Monaghan town, and hath a son, this gentleman hath a good Estate, and is a thriving man and a great tenant to ye present Duke of Ormond".

References

edit
  1. ^ Jonhston-Liik, Edith March (2002), History of the Irish Parliament, 1692-1800: Commons, Constituencies and Statutes, vol V. Ulster Historical Society, pp. 273-4.
  2. ^ Montgomery William (July 2009). The Montgomery Manuscripts: (1603-1706) Comp. from Family Papers by William Montgomery, of Rosemount. BiblioBazaar. p. 392. ISBN 978-1-113-20892-7.