Biography of John Manners 1st Duke Rutland 1638-1711

Before 02 Jun 1629 [his father] John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland (age 24) and [his mother] Frances Montagu Countess Rutland (age 15) were married.

On 29 May 1638 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland was born to John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland (age 33) and Frances Montagu Countess Rutland (age 24) at Boughton, Northamptonshire.

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.

On 29 Jan 1666 Seymour Shirley 5th Baronet (age 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 (age 39) and [his future mother-in-law] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 36).

On 19 May 1671 [his mother] Frances Montagu Countess Rutland (age 57) died at Bottesford, Leicestershire.

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

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

On 08 Jan 1673 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland (age 34) and Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland (age 16) were married. He the son of John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland (age 68) and Frances Montagu Countess Rutland. They were half first cousin twice removed.

On 19 Mar 1675 [his daughter] Catherine Manners Baroness Gower was born to John Manners 1st Duke Rutland (age 36) and [his wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland (age 18).

In Feb 1676 [his brother-in-law] Edward Noel 1st Earl Gainsborough (age 35) was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

On 18 Sep 1676 [his son] John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland was born to John Manners 1st Duke Rutland (age 38) and [his wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland (age 19).

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

In 1679 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland (age 40) was created 1st Baron Manners of Haddon in Derbyshire.

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

On 29 Oct 1682 [his father-in-law] Baptist Noel 3rd Viscount Campden (age 71) died. His son [his brother-in-law] Edward (age 41) succeeded 4th Viscount Campden, 4th Baron Hicks of Ilmington in Warwickshire. Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Gainsborough (age 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 (age 42) in effigy and various low reliefs, depicting his previous wives and nineteen children, in Roman dress, completed by Grinling Gibbons (age 34).

Elizabeth Bertie Viscountess Campden: In 1640 she was born to Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey and Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness. On 06 Jul 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 01 Dec 1682 [his brother-in-law] Edward Noel 1st Earl Gainsborough (age 41) was created 1st Earl Gainsborough. Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Gainsborough (age 36) by marriage Countess Gainsborough.

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

In Jan 1689 [his brother-in-law] Edward Noel 1st Earl Gainsborough (age 48) died. His son Wriothesley (age 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 (age 51) and [his wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland (age 33).

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

Before 21 Oct 1696 [his son] John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland (age 20) and [his daughter-in-law] Catherine Russell Duchess Rutland (age 20) were married. He the son of John Manners 1st Duke Rutland (age 58) and [his wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland (age 39).

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

On 29 Mar 1703 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland (age 64) was created 1st Duke Rutland, 1st Marquess Grandby. [his wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland (age 46) by marriage Duchess Rutland.

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

On 10 Jan 1711 John Manners 1st Duke Rutland (age 72) died at Belvoir Castle [Map]. His son [his son] John (age 34) succeeded 2nd Duke Rutland, 2nd Marquess Grandby, 10th Earl of Rutland, 2nd Baron Manners of Haddon in Derbyshire. [his daughter-in-law] Catherine Russell Duchess Rutland (age 34) by marriage Duchess Rutland.

In 1733 [his former wife] Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland (age 76) died.