Montague Eliot, 8th Earl of St Germans

Montague Charles Eliot, 8th Earl of St Germans was born on May 13 1870 in Pimlico, Middlesex to Charles George Cornwallis Eliot (October 16 1839 - May 22 1901) and his wife Constance Rhiannon Guest (November 1844 - 1916). Montague was educated at Castleden Hall School (Farnborough, Hampshire), Charterhouse and Exeter College, Oxford, taking a BA in 1893. By 1895, he was a Barrister-in-law at the Inner Temple. From 1901-1906, he was appointed a Gentleman Usher to King Edward VII, and from 1908-1910 a Groom-in-Waiting. From 1910-1936, he was a Gentleman Usher to King George V. During the First World War, Montague was a Lieutenant-Commander with the RNVR. He was awarded an OBE in 1919, and became Groom of the Robes from 1920 - 1936. In 1923, he was awarded the MVO, and from 1924 - 1936 he became Extra Groom-in-Waiting to King George V. He was awarded CVO in 1928; KCVO in 1934. In 1936 he became Extra Groom-in-Waiting to King Edward VIII, and, from 1937 to 1952, Extra Groom-in-Waiting to King George VI. From 1952 - 1960, he was Extra Groom-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II He had been awarded Officer, Order of Leopold of Belgium. On November 22 1942, Montague succeeded his older brother to become the 8th Earl of St Germans. He married Helen Agnes Post (d. September 1 1962) on June 22 1910 and they had a daughter and two sons:

• Germaine Elizabeth Olive Eliot (April 11 1911 - )
• Nicholas Richard Michael Eliot (January 26 1914 - 1988)
• Montague Robert Vere Eliot (October 29 1923 - May 16 1994)

Montague died on September 19 1960 and his titles passed to his elder son, Nicholas Richard Michael Eliot.