Vice-Admiral Sir William Augustus Montagu KCH CB (4 December 1785 – 6 March 1852) was a senior officer of the British Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars who served in a number of sea battles and was also in command of the naval brigade in the brief land campaign to capture Île de France in 1810.

Montagu joined the army young, going to sea aged 11 in 1796 as a volunteer on HMS Glatton commanded by Captain Henry Trollope.

In March 1808, Terpsichore was attacked by the larger French vessel Sémillante and despite heavy losses, Montagu was able to outfight his opponent although he could not capture her.

During the assault Montagu fought well and was commended after his brigade assisted in breaking the French resistance around the capital Port Napoleon.

[2] In September 1812, Montagu returned to Europe to command HMS Niobe in the Channel Fleet, later serving off the United States during the War of 1812 and in Portuguese waters.

In June 1814, with the war coming to an end, Niobe was paid off and Montagu was in reserve until 1819, when he took command of HMS Phaeton in Halifax, Nova Scotia.