| Honorific Prefix: | The Right Honourable |
| The Lord Rokeby | |
| Honorific Suffix: | FRS |
| Office: | Member of Parliament for St Germans |
| Term Start: | 1806 |
| Term End: | 1812 |
| Predecessor: | James Langham Lord Binning |
| Alongside: | Sir Joseph Yorke, Charles Philip Yorke |
| Successor: | Hon. James Stuart Henry Goulburn |
| Office1: | Member of Parliament for Tregony |
| Term Start1: | 1790 |
| Term End1: | 1796 |
| Predecessor1: | Robert Kingsmill Lord Hugh Seymour |
| Alongside1: | John Stephenson, Hon. Robert Stewart |
| Successor1: | John Nicholls Sir Lionel Copley, Bt |
| Office2: | Member of Parliament for Bossiney |
| Term Start2: | 1786 |
| Term End2: | 1790 |
| Predecessor2: | Hon. Charles Stuart Bamber Gascoyne |
| Alongside2: | Hon. Charles Stuart |
| Successor2: | Hon. James Stuart Humphrey Minchin |
| Birth Name: | Matthew Robinson |
| Birth Date: | 23 November 1762 |
| Birth Place: | London, England |
| Death Place: | Montagu House, Portman Square |
| Alma Mater: | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Parents: | Morris Robinson Jane Greenland |
| Relations: | Matthew Robinson, 2nd Baron Rokeby (uncle) Morris Robinson, 3rd Baron Rokeby (brother) Elizabeth Montagu (aunt) |
Matthew Montagu, 4th Baron Rokeby (23 November 1762 – 1 September 1831), FRS, known as Matthew Robinson until 1776, was a British Member of Parliament, and briefly a baronet and Peer of the Realm.
Montagu was born Matthew Robinson on 23 November 1762 and was baptised in the parish of St Andrew Holborn. He was the second son of Jane (Greenland) Robinson and Morris Robinson, an attorney of the Six Clerks Office in Chancery of London.[1] He was the younger brother of Morris Robinson, 3rd Baron Rokeby and nephew of Matthew Robinson, 2nd Baron Rokeby.
He was the favoured nephew of Elizabeth (Robinson) Montagu (widow of Edward Montagu, grandson of the Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich), at whose request he took the name of Montagu on 3 June 1776 by Royal Licence in advance of inheriting her estate at Sandleford Priory in Berkshire and elsewhere.
He was educated at Harrow School from 1775 to 1780 and Trinity College, Cambridge in 1780.
A "faithful follower of Pitt", Montagu represented the Cornish constituencies of Bossiney (1786–1790) and Tregony (1790–1795) in the Parliament of Great Britain; and St Germans (1806–1812) in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.[2]
Montagu was a friend and supporter of William Wilberforce, and thus favoured the abolition of the slave trade.[3] Wilberforce stayed at Sandleford from 27th to the 28th of July, 1789:
27th. Set off for Bath and reached Sandleford. The old lady [Elizabeth Montagu] wonderfully spirited, are all very kind in their reception. 28th. Almost compelled to stay with the Montagus all day. Mrs. Montagu senior has many fine, and great, and amiable qualities. Young Montagu all gratitude and respect and affection to her and of most upright and pure intentions.[4] Wilberforce was at Sandleford one night in July 1791:
Monday 28 July. Off betimes on Sierra Leone business-reached Sandleford (M. Montagu's) in the evening. Dr. Beattie was already arrived.[5]
In 1829, he succeeded his brother as 4th Baron Rokeby in the Irish peerage and the 6th Baronet of Rokeby Park.
Montagu was elected a fellow in 1795. His proposers were Arden, Lucas Pepys, J. Rennell, John Sinclair, G. Shuckburgh Evelyn, William Marsden, George, 16th Earl of Morton, Pat Russell, George Atwood, John Henniker Major, and C. F. Greville.[6]
On 9 July 1785, Montagu married Elizabeth Charlton, daughter and heir of Francis Charlton of Kent. Before her death, they had six sons and seven daughters, including:[7]
His wife died on died 7 March 1817, before he succeeded to the barony. Lord Rokeby died at Montagu House, Portman Square on 1 September 1831. He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Edward. Upon Edward's death in Naples in 1847, the titles passed to his younger son Henry upon whose death the baronetcy and barony became extinct.[7]