George Montagu (naturalist) Montagu is best known for his
Ornithological Dictionary (1802) and his contributions to early
knowledge of British birds. He showed that many previously
accepted species were invalid, either because they were birds in
summer or winter plumage or males and females of the same
species. His study of harriers resulted in the discovery that
the Montagu's Harrier was breeding in southern England. He was
also involved in the first British records of Cirl Bunting,
Cattle Egret, Little Gull and Gull-billed Tern. Montagu was born
at the family home of Lackham House in Wiltshire, some three
miles south of Chippenham in the northwest of that county, and
baptised at Lacock Church on 9 July 1753. In 1770 he joined the
army as an Ensign in the 15th Regiment of Foot. He resigned his
commission as a Captain in 1777, but eventually rose to the rank
of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Wiltshire Militia. In 1773 he
married Ann Courtenay, niece of John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute.
They settled at Alderton House