Ralph Montagu needed money to rebuild and refurbish his magnificent London house, which had burned down whilst he was in exile in France. The richest woman in England, being a widowed Duchess (and mad) would only remarry into royalty. Legend has it that Ralph dressed as the Emperor of China, and his servants in the same fashion, wooed and wed her.

Reading this story made me want to know more about such an audacious man. I discovered that he had brought down a prime minister, dined with Louis XIV, helped bring William III to the throne, patronised famous scientists, playwrights and...

Ralph Montagu needed money to rebuild and refurbish his magnificent London house, which had burned down whilst he was in exile in France. The richest woman in England, being a widowed Duchess (and mad) would only remarry into royalty. Legend has it that Ralph dressed as the Emperor of China, and his servants in the same fashion, wooed and wed her.

Reading this story made me want to know more about such an audacious man. I discovered that he had brought down a prime minister, dined with Louis XIV, helped bring William III to the throne, patronised famous scientists, playwrights and...