George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough, DL (13 May 1844 – 9 November 1892), styled Earl of Sunderland until 1857 and Marquess of Blandford between 1857 and 1883, was a British peer.

Early life

Marlborough was born in England on 13 May 1844. He was the eldest son of

John 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), who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Lord President of the Council, and Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane (1822–1899). He was the elder brother of

Lord Randolph Churchill Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill (13 February 1849 – 24 January 1895) was a British statesman. Churchill was a Tory radical and coined the term 'Tory democracy'. He inspired a generation of party managers, created the National Union of ...

and the uncle of

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from ...

. His paternal grandparents were

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 ...

, and Lady Jane Stewart, daughter of Admiral

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 ...

. His maternal grandparents were Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry and

Frances Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry Frances Anne Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry (17 January 1800 – 20 January 1865) was a wealthy English heiress and noblewoman. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Vane-Tempest, 2nd Baronet. She married Charles William Stewart, 1st Baron Stewar ...

. Like his father before him, he was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, ...

, entering in 1857 and being expelled in 1860.

Career

In 1863 Marlborough joined the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

, purchasing a commission in the rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards. He was initiated into the

Freemasonry Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

in January 1871 along with his brother Randolph, in the Churchill Lodge in London but resigned in 1872. In the following years, he was also initiated into the

Ancient Order of Druids The Ancient Order of Druids (AOD) is the senior neo-druid order in the world, and the oldest in continuous existence. It was formed in London, England, in 1781. It is represented in England, Wales, Scotland and the Commonwealth of Nations. Its ...

. After succeeding to the Dukedom, Marlborough sold the family holdings at

Wolvercote Wolvercote is a village that is part of the City of Oxford, England. It is about northwest of the city centre, on the northern edge of Wolvercote Common, which is itself north of Port Meadow and adjoins the River Thames. History The Domesday B ...

and Godstow in 1884.

Personal life

Marlborough was twice married. On 8 November 1869, he was first married to Lady Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton, daughter of

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, (21 January 1811 – 31 October 1885), styled Viscount Hamilton from 1814 to 1818 and The Marquess of Abercorn from 1818 to 1868, was a British Conservative statesman who twice served as Lord Lieutenant of Ir ...

, at

Westminster Palace The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Informally known as the Houses of Parli ...

. She was unkindly described by her mother-in-law as "stupid, pious and dull". Before they divorced on 20 November 1883, shortly after Marlborough inherited the dukedom after the death of his father, they were the parents of four children: * Lady Frances Louisa Spencer-Churchill (1870–1954), who married Sir Robert Gresley, 11th Baronet, on 6 June 1893, by whom she had issue. * Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough (1871–1934). * Lady Lillian Maud Spencer-Churchill (1873–1951), who married Colonel Cecil Grenfell on 6 October 1898, by whom she had two daughters. * Lady Norah Beatrice Henriette Spencer-Churchill (1875–1946), who married

Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt, ICS, FRGS (25 June 1874 – 11 June 1963) was a British diplomat and writer. Biography He began his career as an English member of the Indian Civil Service. His duty in India began in 1896, and he started as an ass ...

on 1 December 1920, by whom she had issue. While married to Albertha, he fathered an illegitimate son, initially known as Guy Bertrand and later known as Guy Bertrand Spencer (b. 4 November 1881, 9 days before his half-brother), by Edith Peers-Williams (d. 1897) who was still married to Heneage Finch, 7th

Earl of Aylesford Earl of Aylesford, in the County of Kent, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1714 for the lawyer and politician Heneage Finch, 1st Baron Guernsey. He had already been created Baron Guernsey in the Peerage of England in ...

(1849–1885). In an attempt to pressure Lord Aylesford to drop his divorce suit, Lady Aylesford and Marlborough's younger brother,

, threatened the Princess of Wales that they would subpoena the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...

(who was touring India at the time) as a witness in the divorce. * Guy Bertrand Spencer, whom Marlborough reportedly cared more for than his legitimate children, worked in a brewery. He married, in 1910, Lily Blanche Minnie Saville (1876-1953), who was a coachman's daughter. Spencer served in the

Royal Garrison Artillery The Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) was formed in 1899 as a distinct arm of the British Army's Royal Regiment of Artillery serving alongside the other two arms of the Regiment, the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) and the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. At the end of his life he lived at 2 Glaziers Lane, Normandy, Surrey, England, and died in hospital at Knaphill, Woking, Surrey, on 31 March 1950. The Duke was cited as one of four co-respondents in the sensational divorce trial of

Lady Colin Campbell Georgia Arianna, Lady Colin Campbell (''née'' Ziadie, born 17 August 1949), also known as Lady C, is a British Jamaican author, socialite, and television personality who has published seven books about the British royal family. They include ...

. He married, as his second wife, (Jane) Lilian Warren Price (1854–1909), the widow of Louis Carré Hammersley, a New York real-estate millionaire, and a daughter of retired

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

Commodore Commodore may refer to: Ranks * Commodore (rank), a naval rank ** Commodore (Royal Navy), in the United Kingdom ** Commodore (United States) ** Commodore (Canada) ** Commodore (Finland) ** Commodore (Germany) or ''Kommodore'' * Air commodore ...

Cicero Price. The civil marriage took place on 29 June 1888 at New York City Hall, with the ceremony officiated by the Mayor of New York City, Abram S. Hewitt. A religious ceremony followed the same day, in the chancel of Tabernacle Baptist Church and presided over by its minister, Daniel C. Potter."An American Duchess; The Duke of Marlborough Marries Mrs. Hamersley; A Civil Marriage Ceremony before Mayor Hewitt and a Religious Ceremony in Church", The New York Times, 30 June 1888, page 1 There were no issue from this marriage. The 8th Duke of Marlborough died in 1892, aged 48 at Blenheim Palace, and was succeeded by his only legitimate son, Charles, Marquess of Blandford.

Gallery

Image:Marquis of Blandford Vanity Fair 18 June 1881.jpg, The Marquess of Blandford in ''Vanity Fair'', 18 June 1881. Image:Lilian Warren Price00.jpg, Lilian Warren Price. Image:Edith Peers Williams, later Countess of Aylesford.JPG, Edith Peers-Williams.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Marlborough, George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke Of 1844 births 1892 deaths Deputy Lieutenants of Oxfordshire People educated at Eton College Royal Horse Guards officers

George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough, DL (13 May 1844 – 9 November 1892), styled Earl of Sunderland until 1857 and Marquess of Blandford between 1857 and 1883, was a British peer. Early life Marlborough was born in Engl ...