Edward Montague

Born: 1602
Died: 7th May 1671, Whitehall, London
Allegiance: Parliamentarian
Position: 2nd Earl of Manchester, Commander of eastern association army

Manchester was the son of the first earl, Henry Montague, who was a wealthy man, with estates in Huntingdonshire.

An active man in parliament, Manchester was accused of treason by Charles I , and joined the parliamentarian cause at the outbreak of war.

Initially, he commanded a regiment that fought under the Earl of Essex. Later, though he was promoted to major general (August 1643) and put in charge of the eastern counties.

Manchester commanded the army that defeated the royalists at Marston Moor. Later that year, he fell out with Oliver Cromwell, who complained to parliament. In 1645 Manchester resigned his command, but remained politically active until 1649.

He opposed the trial and execution of Charles I, but stayed out of the public eye until the restoration of Charles II.