John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich was born November 3rd 1718. There is some doubt as to whether John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich did in fact invent the food item so named after him. It is said by some that he called for a piece of meat wrapped inside two pieces of bread to sustain him at a gambling table. Others then began to order the ‘same as sandwich’ and the name for this food type was born. A more sober version was that as First Lord of the Admiralty he was at his desk very early each morning and consumed a “sandwich” in order not to detract from his work schedule.
But it is not only the sandwich that he is famous for. As mentioned above he was First Lord of the Admiralty, held many political posts including that of Ambassador and Secretary of State. His interest in nautical affairs driven by the association with the British navy prompted him to help Captain James Cook’s explorations by helping Cook to fit out his ships. This support was recognised by Cook when Cook named the Sandwich Islands after him.
His political sway diminished when the Prime Minister he supported, John North, resigned in 1782 and he retired from political life. His final years were quite depressing. His mistress was murdered by another admirer and he struggled to pay his debts until his own death in 1792.