Henry Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Beaulieu

Henry John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Beaulieu JP, DL (5 November 1832 – 4 November 1905), styled Lord Henry Scott until 1885, was a British Conservative politician, aristocrat and landowner.

Background and education Montagu was born at Dalkeith Palace in Midlothian, the second son of Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch and Lady Charlotte Anne Thynne, daughter of Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath.

He suffered from severe asthma. He was educated at Eton but was forced to leave after a few years, as it was recommended by physicians he spend the cold British winters in a warmer climate. Accordingly, at 15, he and his tutor, the Rev Henry Stobart, travelled overseas each winter. These trips became longer and took them further afield. Madeira, Egypt, the West Indies, Turkey, Greece, South Africa, and the Pacific Islands were visited over the next 14 years.

In March 1853, he and his friend, Lord Schomberg Kerr and their tutor arrived at Sydney. Young British aristocrats were rare visitors to New South Wales, and Sydney matrons with unmarried daughters ensured they did not lack invitations to dinners, balls and other social events. Lord Henry made many sketches and paintings in the colony, some of which are now held by the Mitchell Library and John Oxley Library in Australia.

He was especially interested in Egypt and before he was 40 had been up and down the Nile seven times. When he got married in 1865, his father gifted him Beaulieu Palace House. and for South Hampshire from 1868 to 1884. He was a strong advocate of commoners' rights and helped pass the New Forest Act, 1877 on behalf of the New Forest commoners. They had two sons and one daughter, the Honourable Rachel Cecily Montagu-Scott, wife of Henry Forster, 1st Baron Forster.

He died in 1905 at Beaulieu Palace House in Beaulieu, Hampshire, one day prior to his 73rd birthday. The cause of death was heart failure blamed on his lifelong poor health.