Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle
Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle was an English Army officer, politician and colonial administrator who sat in the House of Commons from 1667 to 1670 when he inherited his father's dukedom and sat in the House of Lords.
Monck briefly served as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica and is credited with arranging the first boxing match in England.
Life
Early life
Monck was the son and heir of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle by his wife Anne Clarges, a daughter of John Clarges, "Farrier in the Savoy", of Drury Lane, Westminster. Anne's brother was Sir Thomas Clarges, MP, who greatly assisted his brother-in-law, the then – before his elevation to the dukedom – General George Monck, in bringing about the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. She was the presumed widow of Thomas Radford, milliner, of New Exchange, Strand, Westminster, although it was said that her husband was still alive when her son was born. This left a question concerning Monck's legitimacy.Monck was educated privately, and entered Gray's Inn in 1662. From 1660 until his father's death ten years later in 1670, he was known by the courtesy title of Earl of Torrington, one of his father's subsidiary titles.
Career
At the age of 13, Monck entered politics, having been elected Member of Parliament for Devon in January 1667. In 1670 he was elevated to the peerage following the death of his father, inheriting his father's peerage titles, and thus entered the House of Lords when he reached 21. He became a Gentleman of the Bedchamber and inherited his father's great feudal title, Lord of Bowland. He was created a Knight of the Garter, a Privy Councillor and in 1675 Lord Lieutenant of Devon, in which latter role he served for ten years. He became a titular colonel of several horse regiments of the English Army.In 1673 he raised a regiment as part of the Blackheath Army under Marshal Schomberg. It was intended for service in the Dutch Republic, but was disbanded following the Treaty of Westminster before seeing any action.
On 6 January 1681, Monck arranged a boxing match between his butler and his butcher. This was the first recorded boxing match in England. The butcher won the match.
From 1682 until his death, Monck was Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. In 1685 he resigned the Lord Lieutenancy of Devon to fight against the Monmouth Rebellion, but was largely unsuccessful as a military leader. In 1686, Monck was a major investor in a treasure-seeking expedition headed by William Phips, who had located the wreck of the Spanish treasure ship Nuestra Señora de la Concepción in February 1687. Phips returned to London with more than £200,000 worth of treasure, of which Monck received a 25 percent share.
After serving in a few more minor positions, in 1687, Monck was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica.