Constituency Dates
Westminster 1715 – 1722
Huntingdon 1727 – 1734
Peterborough 1734 – 22 Jan. 1761
Family and Education
b. 8 Feb. 1678, o. surv. s. of Hon. Sidney Wortley Montagu, M.P., 2nd s. of Edward, 1st Earl of Sandwich, by Anne, net. da. and h. of Sir Francis Wortley, 2nd Bt. educ. Westminster; Trinity, Camb. 1693; M. Temple 1693; I. Temple 1706; Grand Tour 1700-3. m. 1712, Lady Mary Pierrepont (the celebrated Lady Mary Wortley Montagu), da. of Evelyn, 1st Duke of Kingston, 1s. 1da. who; John 3rd Earl of Bute [S]. suc. fa. 11 Nov. 1727.
Offices Held

Ld. of Treasury 1714 – 15; ambassador to Turkey 1716 – 17.

Address
Main residence: Wharncliffe, Yorks.
biography text

Edward Wortley Montagu had been a prominent opponent of Sir Robert Walpole, but was too old to take an active part in politics after 1754, though he retained his seat for Peterborough. The seat at Bossiney which he commanded was given to his worthless son, Edward, to enable him to escape from his creditors. In 1755 he made his will, cutting off his son with a small life allowance, and leaving the whole of his vast fortune, estimated at £1,350,000 to his daughter Lady Bute for her life, with remainder to her second surviving son, on condition he took the name of Wortley. His way of life during his last years is described by Horace Walpole (to Bentley, August 1756), after a visit to Wharncliffe:

Old Wortley Montagu lives on the very spot where the dragon of Wantley did, only I believe the latter was much better lodged; you never saw such a wretched hovel, lean, unpainted, and half its nakedness barely shaded with harateen stretched till it cracks. Here the miser hoards health and money, his only two objects; he has chronicles in behalf of the air, and battens on Tokay, his single indulgence, as he has heard it is particularly salutary.

He died 22 Jan. 1761.

Author
R.R.S.
Volume
Commons 1754-1790