Montagu, Edward Wortley, 1713-1776

Montagu, the only son of the celebrated letter-writer Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, contracted two bigamous marriages, fought at Fontenoy, was one of two secretaries to represent Britain at Aix-la-Chapelle, sat as a member of Parliament for Huntingdon, acquired a proficiency in Arabic and other tongues, and "turned Turk."

From the description of Edward Wortley Montagu papers, 1729-1837. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 754866381

English diplomat.

Montagu was an Ambassador to Turkey.

From the description of Edward Wortley Montagu Papers, 1717-1780. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 427505883

Biographical Note

Edward Wortley Montagu (1713-1776), was the only son of the celebrated letter-writer Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, His career was notorious throughout Europe: he had contracted two bigamous marriages, fought at Fontenoy, was one of two represented Britain at Aix-la-Chapelle, sat as Member of Parliament for Huntingdon, acquired a remarkable proficiency in Arabic and other tongues, appeared in London salons dressed in a wig of iron, and then turned Turk. In Egypt from 1762, he met the Danish Consul, John Feroe. and his wife and being attracted to the latter, persuaded Feroe to go to Europe, told Caroline Feroe that her husband had been drowned and married her himself. However, Feroe returned to Egypt and Montagu had to reassure the Roman Catholic Mrs. Feroe that he would adopt her persuasion, which would invalidate her marriage to the Protestant Consul.

Then, pursued by the Dane and accompanied by his secretary, Nathaniel Davison, the couple set off on an enforced honeymoon, following the supposed route of the Exodus to Mt. Sinai and thence to Jerusalem, where Montagu was received into the Church of Rome. Assisted by Davison, he later published an account of this journey for the Royal Society. Davison later became British Consul at Nice and Tangiers, although he still kept up a correspondence with Montagu; while the latter remained some time in Egypt where it is said he married a Nubian girl called Ayesha, by whom he had a son. He ended his days living as a Turk in Padua, declaring to the priest at his deathbed that he died a good Mussulman and repeating to his son, Fortunatus, in Arabic: Elhamdulillah - May God be Praised.

From the guide to the Edward Wortley Montagu, 1729-1837, (Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.)