Victor Alexander Montagu

Rear-Admiral Victor Alexander Montagu (20 April 1841 – 30 January 1915) was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Navy officer. Born to John Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich, he was a godson of Queen Victoria. Montagu entered the Royal Navy as a cadet at the age of 11. He served in the Crimean War (1832–56), seeing action in the Baltic campaign and in the Black Sea. Montagu survived the shipwreck of HMS Raleigh in 1857 and afterwards served with the Naval Brigade of HMS Pearl in the Indian Mutiny, being commended by parliament for his actions. As a captain, Montagu commanded the corvette HMS Garnet from 1882. He was involved in an incident in Grenada where he threatened the editor of the Grenada People and, after being criticised in the House of Commons, retired in 1885. He was promoted to rear admiral following retirement.

Montagu was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron and built several boats. He designed the Montagu whaler in 1890, which was the standard seaboat of the Royal Navy for 60 years. As a cricketer Montagu played in two matches for the Marylebone Cricket Club, enjoying little success as a batsman. He wrote two autobiographical works.