“M” is for Montagu, Lord Charles Greville (1741-1784)

“M” is for Montagu, Lord Charles Greville (1741-1784). Governor. Montagu arrived in Charleston in July 1766. In 1769 Montagu signed the act establishing much-needed circuit courts. He sailed for England in 1769. Returning in 1771, Montagu immediately became embroiled in controversy. The Commons House of Assembly had long controlled the taxation of the colony. It refused to back down when colonial authorities in London attempted to limit its powers. A deadlock ensued and no tax act passed the legislature for the last years of colonial rule. In 1772 Montagu called the assembly to meet in Beaufort instead of Charleston and created a political firestorm. After the legislature censured him, he dissolved it and a subsequent assembly. Having lost control of the situation Lord Charles Greville Montagu precipitously sailed for England in March 1773 and soon thereafter resigned the governorship.