Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, KG, KB, FRS (1602 – 5 May 1671) was an important commander of Parliamentary forces in the First English Civil War, and for a time Oliver Cromwell's superior.

[4] He soon appointed his provost-marshal, William Dowsing, as a paid iconoclast, touring the churches of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire destroying all "Popish" and "superstitious" imagery, as well as features such as altar-rails.

[5] Having become a member of the Committee of Both Kingdoms in 1644, he was in supreme command at the Battle of Marston Moor but in the subsequent operations his lack of energy brought him into disagreement with Cromwell, and in November 1644 he strongly expressed his disapproval of continuing the war.

He opposed the trial of the king, and retired from public life during the Commonwealth but after the Restoration, which he actively assisted, he was loaded with honours by Charles II.

[3] Men of such divergent sympathies as Baxter, Burnet and Clarendon agreed in describing Manchester as a lovable and virtuous man, who loved peace and moderation both in politics and religion.

Before her death on 28 September 1658, they had a daughter:[8] In July 1659, Lord Manchester married Eleanor, Dowager Countess of Warwick, as his fourth wife.

He is inaccurately depicted sitting in the House of Commons in Cromwell's presence although he had been a member of the Lords since 1626 - & the actor (about 67/ 68 at the time) was considerably older than the historical Manchester, he being only 40 when the English Civil Wars began.