Early Life
Montgomery was born in Swords, Ireland. His father, Thomas Montgomery, was a former British Army Officer and a member of the Irish Parliament. He was a brother of Colonel Alexander Montgomery (1720–1800) and a cousin of Colonel Alexander Montgomery (1686–1729), both Members of Parliament for County Donegal. Another first cousin was an M.P. for County Monaghan,also named Alexander Montgomery (died 1785).
Richard Montgomery spent most of his childhood near Donegal, where he learned to hunt, ride, shoot, and fence. Thomas Montgomery made sure that Montgomery received a good education; he learned French, Latin, and rhetoric, and attended a school outside of Belfast. In 1754, the same year that the French and Indian War began in North America, Montgomery enrolled in Trinity College.
Despite his great love of knowledge Montgomery did not receive a degree. He was urged by his father and his oldest brother Alexander to join the military, which he did on September 21, 1756. His father purchased an ensign's commission for Montgomery, who joined the 17th Regiment of Foot.
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