George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle

George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle (also spelled Monk in older texts) KG PC JP (6 December 1608 – 3 January 1670) was an English soldier, who fought on both sides during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A prominent military figure under the Commonwealth, his support was crucial to the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, who rewarded him with the title Duke of Albemarle and other senior positions.

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His Grace The Duke of Albemarle KG PC JP
Portrait by Peter Lely
Chief Minister of Great Britain Lord High Treasurer
In office June 1667 – January 1670 †
Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex
In office 1662 – 1670 †
Custos Rotulorum & Lord Lieutenant of Devon
In office July 1660 – January 1670 †
Lord Deputy of Ireland
In office June 1660 – February 1662
Member of Parliament for Devon
In office April 1660 – July 1660
Commander-in-Chief Scotland
In office April 1654 – February 1660
General at sea
In office 1652–1653
Personal details
Born	6 December 1608 Potheridge, Devon
Died	3 January 1670(1670-01-03) (aged 61) Potheridge, Devon
Resting place	Westminster Abbey
Nationality	English
Spouse	Anne Clarges (1653–his death)
Children	Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle
Occupation	Professional soldier and naval officer
Signature
Military service
Rank	Captain General
Battles/wars	Anglo-Spanish War (1625–1630) Cádiz expedition (1625) Anglo-French War (1627–1629) St Martin-de-Ré Eighty Years' War Maastricht; Breda Wars of the Three Kingdoms Newburn; New Ross; Nantwich; Dunbar; Dundee; First Anglo-Dutch War Portland; The Gabbard; Scheveningen; Glencairn's rising Second Anglo-Dutch War Four Days' Battle; St. James's Day Battle

The younger son of an impoverished Devon landowner, Monck began his military career in 1625 and served in the Eighty Years' War until 1638, when he returned to England. Posted to Ireland as part of the army sent to suppress the Irish Rebellion of 1641, he quickly gained a reputation for efficiency and ruthlessness. After Charles I agreed to a truce with the Catholic Confederacy in September 1643, he was captured fighting for the Royalists at Nantwich in January 1644 and remained a prisoner for the next two years.

Released in 1647, he was named Parliamentarian commander in Eastern Ulster, fought in Scotland under Oliver Cromwell in the 1650 to 1652 Anglo-Scottish War, and served as General at sea during the 1652 to 1654 First Anglo-Dutch War. From 1655 to 1660, he was army commander in Scotland, and his support for moderates in Parliament who wanted to restore the monarchy proved decisive in Charles II regaining his throne in May 1660.

Due to a combination of illness and lack of interest in politics, Monck faded into the background after 1660, but he returned to sea during the Second Anglo-Dutch War and played an important leadership role during the 1665 Great Plague of London, as well as the Great Fire of London in 1666. He lived in retirement for the last three years of his life and died in January 1670.