John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu (10 June 1866 – 30 March 1929), was a British Conservative politician and promoter of motoring.
Background, Education and Early Life
Montagu was the eldest son of Henry Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, second son of Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch. His mother was the Hon. Cecily Susan, daughter of John Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, 2nd Baron Wharncliffe. He went to Eton College where he rowed, and shot for his school at Wimbledon. He then went to New College, Oxford and helped the New College boat to the Head of the River. He rowed for the Oxford Etonians in the 1887 Grand Challenge Cup with Guy Nickalls and Douglas McLean although without success.
He worked for a year in the sheds of the London and South Western Railway and became a practical engineer. Then he went round the world with his cousin, Lord Ancram, and his friend, Lord Ennismore.
Political Career
Montagu entered Parliament for New Forest in 1895, a seat he held until 1905, when he succeeded his father in the barony and entered the House of Lords.
During the First World War Montagu was an acting member of the War Aircraft Committee from March to April 1916 and an adviser on Mechanical Transport Services to the Indian government (with the rank of Honorary Brigadier-General).
He is chiefly remembered as a promoter of motoring and was the founder and editor of The Car Illustrated magazine and a member of the Road Board.
Family
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu married firstly Lady Cecil Kerr, daughter of Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian, in 1889. She died in September 1919, aged 53.
He married secondly Alice Pearl, daughter of Major Edward Barrington Crake, in 1920.
There were children from both marriages, including Elizabeth.
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu died in March 1929, aged 62, and was succeeded in the barony by his only son, Edward.
Lady Montagu of Beaulieu later remarried and died in April 1996, aged 101.
During his first marriage Beaulieu had a daughter by his mistress and secretary Eleanor Thornton. Wanting an appropriate mascot for his Rolls-Royce, and using Eleanor Velasco Thornton as a model, the sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes was commissioned to design the precursor (called "The Whisper") of the Spirit of Ecstasy; the famous winged mascot that has adorned nearly every Rolls-Royce car since 1911.
On 30 December 1915, with his mistress Eleanor Thornton, Montagu was on board the SS Persia sailing through the Mediterranean on the way to India when the ship was torpedoed without warning by the German U-boat U-38 commanded by Max Valentiner. Thornton drowned, along with hundreds of others, but Montagu survived the sinking.
Was born in 1866, and educated at Eton and New College, Oxford. A prominent sportsman, he has always been extremely interested in sail as well as power craft. One of his first boats was the 18-foot cruiser Grebe. This he owned in 1885, and sailed on the Beaulieu River and the Solent. It practically marked the beginning of small-class racing in the Solent. He has also owned the Calva (2½-rater), the White Swan, the Siola, the Cygnet, and the Calisaya. With White Swan and Siola he won several matches. The Calisaya, a 30-ton cutter, he uses at present at Beaulieu.
In 1904 Lord Montagu became interested in marine motoring, and for the season ran a motor-boat. In the following
Yarrow Napier. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.
season, however, he, with Mr. Lionel de Rothschild, became owner of Napier H., built by Messrs. S. F. Edge, Ltd. She was raced most successfully through the season, and, being winning boat in the Eliminating Trials in the Solent, represented England in the International Trophy Race at Arcachon, and won easily, Lord Montagu acting as steersman in this and other races. On September II Lord Montagu and Mr. Lionel de Rothschild then acquired the fast racer Yarrow Napier, which they raced at Monaco early in the season of 1906. Lord Montagu again won the International Trophy in August, 1906, with Yarrow Napier. Yarrow Napier is one of the fastest boats of her class afloat. Lord Montagu was elected a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1906. He is Commodore of the Hythe Yacht Club.
Clubs: Royal Southern, Royal Yacht Squadron, Castle, Hythe.
Residence: 3, Tilney Street, W.