Biography of John Manners 1st Duke Rutland 1638-1711

Before 2nd June 1629 [his father] John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 24] and [his mother] Frances Montagu Countess Rutland [aged 15] were married.

On 29th May 1638 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland was born to [his father] John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 33] and [his mother] Frances Montagu Countess Rutland [aged 24] at Boughton, Northamptonshire.

On 29th March 1641 George Manners 7th Earl of Rutland [aged 61] died. His second cousin [his father] John [aged 36] succeeded 8th Earl of Rutland. [his mother] Frances Montagu Countess Rutland [aged 27] by marriage Countess of Rutland. Monument sculpted by Grinling Gibbons at St Mary the Virgin Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire [Map].

Before 1648 [his brother-in-law] John Cecil 4th Earl Exeter [aged 19] and [his sister] Frances Manners Countess Exeter [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Countess Exeter. She the daughter of [his father] John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 43] and [his mother] Frances Montagu Countess Rutland [aged 33]. He the son of David Cecil 3rd Earl Exeter and Elizabeth Egerton Countess Exeter. They were half sixth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

In or before 1655 [his brother-in-law] Patrick Chaworth 3rd Viscount Chaworth [aged 19] and [his sister] Grace Manners Viscountess Chaworth were married. She by marriage Viscountess Chaworth in County Armagh. She the daughter of [his father] John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 50] and [his mother] Frances Montagu Countess Rutland [aged 40]. They were third cousins.

The Lord Ross Divorce attracted considerable public attention since it highlighted the shortcomings of the divorce laws. Anne Pierrepont had clearly committed adultery since she was in London at the time of the conception whilst her husband, known by the courtesy title Lord Ross was at Belvoir Castle [Map]. The child would be considered legitimate since the parents were married; the law made no provision for adultery or divorce. He was forced to seek legislation in Parliament that made the child illegitimate and, therefore, unable to inherit his title. He was further compelled to seek legislation so that he could marry again so that he could produce an heir.

King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland took a more than passing interest, it is believed, since divorce may have been an option since he and his wife Catherine of Braganza Queen Consort England had not had any children in their eight years of marriage despite he having had eight illegitimate children.

In 1660 [his sister] Frances Manners Countess Exeter [aged 29] died.

In 1661 [his brother-in-law] James Cecil 3rd Earl Salisbury [aged 13] and [his sister] Margaret Manners Countess of Salisbury were married. She the daughter of [his father] John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 56] and [his mother] Frances Montagu Countess Rutland [aged 47]. They were fifth cousin once removed.

On 29th January 1666 Seymour Shirley 5th Baronet [aged 19] and [his future wife] Diana Bruce were married. She by marriage Lady Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 39] and [his future mother-in-law] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 36]. They were sixth cousins.

On 14th February 1667 [his father] John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 62] was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire.

On 3rd December 1668 William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury [aged 77] died. His grandson [his brother-in-law] James [aged 20] succeeded 3rd Earl Salisbury. [his sister] Margaret Manners Countess of Salisbury by marriage Countess Salisbury.

On 17th September 1669 [his brother-in-law] James Annesley 2nd Earl Anglesey [aged 24] and [his sister] Elizabeth Manners Countess Anglesey [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of [his father] John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 65] and [his mother] Frances Montagu Countess Rutland [aged 55]. He the son of Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Annesley [aged 55] and Elizabeth Altham Countess Anglesey [aged 49].

On 19th May 1671 [his mother] Frances Montagu Countess Rutland [aged 57] died at Bottesford, Leicestershire.

On 10th November 1671 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 33] and Diana Bruce were married. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 45] and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 41]. He the son of John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 67] and Frances Montagu Countess Rutland. They were third cousin once removed.

On 15th July 1672 [his wife] Diana Bruce died in childbirth. The child, named Robert, died the same day.

On 8th January 1673 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 34] and Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 16] were married. He the son of John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 68] and Frances Montagu Countess Rutland. They were half first cousin twice removed.

On 19th March 1675 [his daughter] Catherine Manners Baroness Gower was born to John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 36] and [his wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 18]. She married September 1692 John Leveson-Gower 1st Baron Gower, son of William Leveson-Gower 4th Baronet and Jane Granville Baroness Gower, and had issue.

In February 1676 [his brother-in-law] Edward Noel 1st Earl Gainsborough [aged 35] was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

On 18th September 1676 [his son] John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland was born to John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 38] and [his wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 19]. He married (1) before 21st October 1696 his sixth cousin Catherine Russell Duchess Rutland and had issue (2) 1st January 1713 Lucy Sherard Duchess Rutland, daughter of Bennet Sherard 2nd Baron Sherard, and had issue.

On 16th August 1677 Charles Berkeley 2nd Earl Berkeley [aged 28] and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Noel Countess Berkeley [aged 23] were married. He the son of George Berkeley 1st Earl Berkeley [aged 49] and Elizabeth Massingberd Couness Berkeley.

In 1679 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 40] was created 1st Baron Manners of Haddon in Derbyshire.

On 29th September 1679 [his father] John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 75] died at Nether Haddon, Derbyshire [Map]. He was buried at St Mary the Virgin Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire [Map]. His son John [aged 41] succeeded 9th Earl of Rutland. [his wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 22] by marriage Countess of Rutland.

In 1682 [his sister] Margaret Manners Countess of Salisbury died.

On 29th October 1682 [his father-in-law] Baptist Noel 3rd Viscount Campden [aged 71] died. His son [his brother-in-law] Edward [aged 41] succeeded 4th Viscount Campden, 4th Baron Hicks of Ilmington in Warwickshire. Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Gainsborough [aged 36] by marriage Viscountess Campden. He was buried at Church of St Peter and St Paul, Exton, Rutlandshire [Map].

A huge monument in black and white marble, with a tall base on which stand obelisks, on balls capped by two black urns and a large open pediment. Within, are the Viscount and his fourth wife [his mother-in-law] Elizabeth Bertie Viscountess Campden [aged 42] in effigy and various low reliefs, depicting his previous wives and nineteen children, in Roman dress, completed by Grinling Gibbons [aged 34].

Elizabeth Bertie Viscountess Campden: In 1640 she was born to Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey and Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness. On 6th July 1655 Baptist Noel 3rd Viscount Campden and she were married. She by marriage Viscountess Campden. The difference in their ages was 29 years. She the daughter of Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey and Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness. They were second cousin twice removed. In 1683 Elizabeth Bertie Viscountess Campden died.

On 1st December 1682 [his brother-in-law] Edward Noel 1st Earl Gainsborough [aged 41] was created 1st Earl Gainsborough. Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Gainsborough [aged 36] by marriage Countess Gainsborough.

On 21st January 1683 Anthony Ashley-Cooper 1st Earl Shaftesbury [aged 61] died. His son Anthony [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Earl Shaftesbury, 2nd Baron Ashley of Wimborne St Giles, 3rd Baronet Cooper of Rockbourne in Southampton. [his sister] Dorothy Manners Countess Shaftesbury [aged 27] by marriage Countess Shaftesbury.

On 26th April 1683 [his brother-in-law] Edward Noel 1st Earl Gainsborough [aged 42] and Mary Herbert Countess Gainsborough were married. She by marriage Countess Gainsborough. They were fourth cousins.

On 6th April 1686 Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Annesley [aged 71] died. His son [his brother-in-law] James [aged 41] succeeded 2nd Earl Anglesey, 3rd Viscount Valentia, 2nd Baron Annesley Newport Pagnell Buckinghamshire. [his sister] Elizabeth Manners Countess Anglesey [aged 32] by marriage Countess Anglesey.

In January 1689 [his brother-in-law] Edward Noel 1st Earl Gainsborough [aged 48] died. His son Wriothesley [aged 28] succeeded 2nd Earl Gainsborough, 5th Viscount Campden, 5th Baron Hicks of Ilmington in Warwickshire. Catherine Greville Duchess Buckingham and Normandby by marriage Countess Gainsborough.

Around 1690 [his daughter] Dorothy Manners Countess Gainsborough was born to John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 51] and [his wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 33]. She married before 1708 her first cousin Baptist Noel 3rd Earl Gainsborough and had issue.

In September 1692 [his son-in-law] John Leveson-Gower 1st Baron Gower [aged 17] and Catherine Manners Baroness Gower [aged 17] were married. She the daughter of John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 54] and Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 35].

Before 21st October 1696 John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland [aged 20] and Catherine Russell Duchess Rutland [aged 20] were married. He the son of John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 58] and Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 39]. They were sixth cousins.

In 1698 [his sister] Dorothy Manners Countess Shaftesbury [aged 42] died.

On 10th October 1698 George Berkeley 1st Earl Berkeley [aged 70] died. He was buried at St Dunstan Church, Cranford. His son Charles [aged 49] succeeded 2nd Earl Berkeley, 2nd Viscount Dursley, 10th Baron Berkeley. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Noel Countess Berkeley [aged 44] by marriage Countess Berkeley.

In 1700 [his sister] Elizabeth Manners Countess Anglesey [aged 46] died.

On 15th February 1700 [his sister] Grace Manners Viscountess Chaworth died.

On 29th March 1703 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 64] was created 1st Duke Rutland, 1st Marquess Grandby. [his wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 46] by marriage Duchess Rutland.

Before 1708 [his son-in-law] Baptist Noel 3rd Earl Gainsborough [aged 23] and Dorothy Manners Countess Gainsborough [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Countess Gainsborough. She the daughter of John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 69] and Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 50]. They were first cousins.

On 10th January 1711 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 72] died at Belvoir Castle [Map]. His son John [aged 34] succeeded 2nd Duke Rutland, 2nd Marquess Grandby, 10th Earl of Rutland, 2nd Baron Manners of Haddon in Derbyshire. Catherine Russell Duchess Rutland [aged 34] by marriage Duchess Rutland.

In 1733 [his former wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 76] died.