Jane Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (29 March 1798 – 12 October 1844), formerly Lady Jane Stewart, was the first wife of

George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough (27 December 1793 – 1 July 1857), styled Earl of Sunderland until 1817 and Marquess of Blandford between 1817 and 1840, was a British nobleman, politician, and peer. The great-grandfather of S ...

. Jane was the daughter of

George Stewart, 8th Earl of Galloway Admiral George Stewart, 8th Earl of Galloway, (24 March 1768 – 27 March 1834), styled Lord Garlies between 1773 and 1806, was a British naval commander and politician. Background Garlies was the eldest son of John Stewart, 7th Earl of Gall ...

, and his wife, the former Lady Jane Paget, and was the first cousin of George Spencer-Churchill, whose mother had been Jane's father's sister. She married the duke, then Marquess of Blandford, on 13 January 1819. It was the future duke's first legal marriage, though he had previously gone through a false marriage ceremony (with his brother,

Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill (3 December 1794 – 28 April 1840) was a British army officer and politician. He was the second son of George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough and Lady Susan Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 7th Earl ...

, playing the role of clergyman) and had then lived as husband and wife in Scotland with the 16-year-old Susannah Adelaide Law, which might have made the marriage legal under Scottish law. Blandford had successfully contested the matter in court, even though she had a child by him. His mother was obliged to pay Susannah an allowance in order to prevent her making public his letters. He had also had an affair with

Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness Conyngham Elizabeth Conyngham (''née'' Denison), Marchioness Conyngham (29 March 1770 – 11 October 1861), was an English courtier and noblewoman. She was the last mistress of George IV of the United Kingdom.K. D. Reynolds, ‘Conyngham , Elizabeth, ...

. They had four children: *Lady Louisa Spencer-Churchill (c.1820–1882), who married the Honourable Robert Spencer, son of Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill, and had issue. *

John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough (2 June 18224 July 1883), styled Earl of Sunderland from 1822 to 1840 and Marquess of Blandford from 1840 to 1857, was a British Conservative cabinet minister, politician, peer, and noblem ...

(1822–1883). *

Lord Alfred Spencer-Churchill Lord Alfred Spencer-Churchill DL JP (24 April 1824 – 21 September 1893) was a British Conservative politician. Early life Spencer-Churchill was born on 24 April 1824 at Garboldisham Hall, in Norfolk, England. He was the son of George Spence ...

(1824–1893), who married the Hon. Harriet Gough-Calthorpe, daughter of

Frederick Gough, 4th Baron Calthorpe Frederick Gough, 4th Baron Calthorpe (14 June 1790 – 2 May 1868), known as Hon. Frederick Gough-Calthorpe until 1851, of Elvetham Hall, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, was a British peer and Member of Parliament. He was born the 4th son of Henry Go ...

and had issue. * Lord Alan Spencer-Churchill (1825-1873), who married Rosalind Dowker. Blandford inherited his father's dukedom in 1840. The duchess died at Blenheim Palace, aged 46. The duke remarried a further twice, with more children from each marriage.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marlborough, Jane Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of 1798 births 1844 deaths English duchesses by marriage Daughters of Scottish earls