# How did an American pass himself off as a Duke in Britain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476 "2009-02-04T21:41:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/21 "2009-02-05T12:51:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Sorry for the hijack, but his son has the most incredibly long and pretentious name I’ve ever heard: [Alexander Michael Charles David Francis George Edward William Kimble Drogo Montagu, Viscount Mandeville](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Montagu,_Viscount_Mandeville) Hmmm. I’m not sure this beats [Admiral Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, KCB, DSO, JP, DL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Drax). Viscount Mandeville has a longer name overall, but that’s just because his parents gave him lots of middle names to make up for depriving him of hyphens. He is also woefully short of silliness and seems to have no alphabet soup. Sir Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax has no less than THREE hypens, more silliness than some Monty Python episodes, and can even claim to be a Commander of the Bath. The fact that the British Government sent him on a diplomatic mission to meet Molotov and Stalin is just icing on the cake - talk about culture clash. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/22 "2009-02-05T13:04:40Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > OT: I think the SDMB is the only place I ever see the term Britisher used. I’m sure I remember it was used not infrequently in 60s & 70s UK war comics whenever the Germans were attacking! Usually together with the words, ‘Die’ and ‘pigs’ ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/23 "2009-02-05T13:09:41Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > I’m sure I remember it was used not infrequently in 60s & 70s UK war comics whenever the Germans were attacking! Usually together with the words, ‘Die’ and ‘pigs’ - Englander Schweinhund! \* ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/24 "2009-02-05T13:15:47Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > - Englander Schweinhund! \* Toodle pip, old chap! ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/25 "2009-02-05T13:20:38Z")
Ah, maybe it was more common to use _Englander_, but I’m sure _Britisher_ was used also - possibly just for a change! Or maybe to keep the Scottish, Irish & Welsh readers happy! ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/26 "2009-02-05T14:00:15Z")
> [@slaphead](#): > > Hmmm. I’m not sure this beats [Admiral Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, KCB, DSO, JP, DL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Drax). Viscount Mandeville has a longer name overall, but that’s just because his parents gave him lots of middle names to make up for depriving him of hyphens. He is also woefully short of silliness and seems to have no alphabet soup. > > Sir Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax has no less than THREE hypens, more silliness than some Monty Python episodes, and can even claim to be a Commander of the Bath. The fact that the British Government sent him on a diplomatic mission to meet Molotov and Stalin is just icing on the cake - talk about culture clash. You don’t need a title to have a silly name in England: [Link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10218068&postcount=258) ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/27 "2009-02-05T14:15:43Z")
_Britischer architekt_ Ten points if you can name the car 😛 ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/28 "2009-02-05T16:02:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Sorry for the hijack, but his son has the most incredibly long and pretentious name I’ve ever heard: [Alexander Michael Charles David Francis George Edward William Kimble Drogo Montagu, Viscount Mandeville](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Montagu,_Viscount_Mandeville) > [@slaphead](#): > > Hmmm. I’m not sure this beats [Admiral Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, KCB, DSO, JP, DL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Drax). I think both are beaten by [Leone Sextus Denys Oswolf Fraudatifilius Tollemache-Tollemache de Orellana Plantagenet Tollemache-Tollemache,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leone_Sextus_Denys_Oswolf_Fraudatifilius_Tollemache-Tollemache_de_Orellana_Plantagenet_Tollemache-Tollemache) and his brother, Lyulph Ydwallo Odin Nestor Egbert Lyonel Toedmag Hugh Erchenwyne Saxon Esa Cromwell Orma Nevill Dysart Plantagenet Tollemache-Tollemache. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/29 "2009-02-05T16:09:12Z")
Yes, but according to Wikipedia, the person I mentioned isn’t a Victorian-era Brit but instead is a fifteen-year-old kid who lives in California. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/30 "2009-02-05T16:11:27Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > _Britischer architekt_ > > Ten points if you can name the car 😛 No, but the “Britischer architekt” was [James Stirling](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stirling_(architect)). Can you name the building? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/31 "2009-02-05T16:38:11Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Ahem. He’s the Baron Haden-Guest, not the Baron _of_ Haden-Guest. Dammit…I knew I shouldn’t have thrown out my Debrett’s! ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/32 "2009-02-05T16:45:25Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Dammit…I knew I shouldn’t have thrown out my Debrett’s! Well, you can get pretty reliable information out of Wikipedia, including from this article on [Lady Haden-Guest](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Lee_Curtis). ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/33 "2009-02-05T19:40:00Z")
> [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](#): > > No, but the “Britischer architekt” was [James Stirling](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stirling_(architect)). Can you name the building? The [Neue Staatsgalerie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Staatsgalerie) in Stuttgart, IIRC. No idea what the car was. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/34 "2009-02-05T19:56:15Z")
> [@bonzer](#): > > The [Neue Staatsgalerie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Staatsgalerie) in Stuttgart, IIRC. > > No idea what the car was. Correct. (It’s amusing that neither you nor I can remember the name of the car which the advert was actually promoting. Maybe their advertising agency needs to remember what TV adverts are actually for. The Staatsgalerie probably got more name-recognition from this ad than the people who actually paid for it.) ---
**Author:** ![WoodenTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@WoodenTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodenTaco)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/35 "2009-02-05T20:14:49Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > As it happens, the [current Duke of Manchester](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Montagu,_13th_Duke_of_Manchester) lives in America and is married to an American woman. There’s something very, very odd about the Duke of Manchester having [a facebook profile](http://www.facebook.com/people/Lord-Alexander-Montagu-Manchester/1034855745). ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/36 "2009-02-05T20:30:46Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Yes, but according to Wikipedia, the person I mentioned isn’t a Victorian-era Brit but instead is a fifteen-year-old kid who lives in California. But, location aside, he _is_ actually Viscount Manderville, son and heir of the Duke of Manchester. Fair enough, his full name is a little long, but what would be more pretentious in his case – continuing in the naming tradition his father’s family has followed for generations, or saying “The hell with it, we’re in California: call him Rainbow Mooncloud”? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/37 "2009-02-05T20:34:49Z")
> [@WoodenTaco](#): > > There’s something very, very odd about the Duke of Manchester having [a facebook profile](http://www.facebook.com/people/Lord-Alexander-Montagu-Manchester/1034855745). I like the way it says “Not the right Lord Alexander Montagu Manchester you were looking for? Search more” How many do you think there are? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/38 "2009-02-05T20:36:17Z")
> [@WoodenTaco](#): > > There’s something very, very odd about the Duke of Manchester having [a facebook profile](http://www.facebook.com/people/Lord-Alexander-Montagu-Manchester/1034855745). That actually gave me a good chuckle when it popped up: Not the **Lord Alexander Montagu Manchester** you were looking for? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/39 "2009-02-05T20:49:14Z")
> [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](#): > > Correct. > > (It’s amusing that neither you nor I can remember the name of the car which the advert was actually promoting. Maybe their advertising agency needs to remember what TV adverts are actually for. The Staatsgalerie probably got more name-recognition from this ad than the people who actually paid for it.) I remember the car, never heard of the building, but that probably says more about me. The ad was for the Rover 800, and the German guy who chose a Rover over a BMW or Merc was trying to justify his, let’s face it, stupid decision by pointing out that the striking building was also designed in Britain. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xMESnHBpMkc/hqdefault.jpg "Rover 800 fastback advert") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMESnHBpMkc) ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476/40 "2009-02-05T21:27:01Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Sorry for the hijack, but his son has the most incredibly long and pretentious name I’ve ever heard: [Alexander Michael Charles David Francis George Edward William Kimble Drogo Montagu, Viscount Mandeville](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Montagu,_Viscount_Mandeville) What’s even more amazing is that his sister is “Ashley Faith Maxine Nell” I mean, no offense to anyone named Ashley, Faith, Maxine or Nell, but putting them all together makes it sound like you’re intentionally trying for a trailer-park vibe. I almost wonder if it’s some kind of performance art by the good Viscount. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-an-american-pass-himself-off-as-a-duke-in-britain/484476.md?page=3)