Biography
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough, was born 22 November 1706 in Althorp, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom to Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland (c1674-1722) and Anne Churchill (1682-1716) and died 20 October 1758 Münster, Westphalia, Germany of unspecified causes. He married Elizabeth Trevor (c1713-1761) 23 May 1732 .
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough, KG, PC (22 November 1706 – 20 October 1758), styled as The Honourable Charles Spencer between 1706 and 1729 and as The Earl of Sunderland between 1729 and 1733, was a British soldier, nobleman, and politician from the Spencer family. He briefly served as Lord Privy Seal in 1755. He led British forces during the Raid on St Malo in 1758.
Dukedom of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough is a title of English Peerage created by Queen Anne in 1702 for John Churchill the noted military leader. The name of the dukedom refers to Marlborough in Wiltshire. A good number of their descendants have married into many of the other noble hours of England.
The title Marquess of Blandford is used as the courtesy title for the Duke's eldest son and heir. The Duke's eldest son's eldest son can use the courtesy title Earl of Sunderland, and the duke's eldest son's eldest son's eldest son (not necessarily the eldest great-grandson) the title Lord Spencer of Wormleighton (not to be confused with Earl Spencer).
Early life
He was the second son of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland and Lady Anne Churchill, the second daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and his wife Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. He inherited the Sunderland title from his older brother in 1729, becoming 5th Earl of Sunderland, and then the Marlborough title from his aunt, Henrietta, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough in 1733. At that time he handed over the Sunderland estates to his younger brother John, but he did not obtain Blenheim Palace until Sarah, the dowager duchess, died in 1744.[1]
On Thursday, 14 July 1737, Marlborough captained his own cricket team in a match against the Prince of Wales' XI on Kew Green. Wales' XI are known to have won the match which was apparently of minor standard although publicised because of the participants.[2] This is the only known mention of Marlborough in a cricketing connection.
He was one of the original governors of London's Foundling Hospital, the foundation of which in 1739 marked a watershed in British child care advocacy and attitudes.
Seven Years War
He is best known for his service in the early part of the Seven Years' War. He led the Raid on St Malo, a naval descent against the French coastal port. Following the Capture of Emden he led the British expeditionary force sent to join Ferdinand of Brunswick's Army of Observation on Continental Europe but died in 1758, leaving command to John Manners, Marquess of Granby.
Personal Life
The amiable Charles was generally well-liked, and he was a loyal husband and loving father. He made sure to frequently write his wife on military campaigns and always sent his love to their children[3] He had no concept of economy, and was a heavy spender. He was so notoriously incompetent with money that when he suddenly died in 1758, acquaintances wryly remarked that he died before he could spend his heir's inheritance on the estate.[4]
Death
In October 1758, Charles was on a campaign in Germany when he caught dysentery that was sweeping the camp. His sudden death shocked his family, friends, and England. However, an autopsy revealed he would have died not long after, as his lungs were ravaged by the consumption that had killed his mother and sister. Surprisingly, Charles did not spread consumption to his children.[5]
Titles
- 22 November 1706 – 15 September 1729: The Honourable Charles Spencer
- 15 September 1729 – 24 October 1733: The Right Honourable The Earl of Sunderland
- 24 October 1733 – 20 October 1758: His Grace The Duke of Marlborough
Marriage and children
He married The Hon. Elizabeth Trevor (c. 1713 – 1761), daughter of Thomas Trevor, 2nd Baron Trevor. They had five children:
- Lady Diana Spencer (1734–1808). Married first Frederick St John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke and secondly Topham Beauclerk.
- Elizabeth Herbert, Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery (January/March 1737 – 30 April 1831). Married Henry Herbert, 10th Earl of Pembroke.
- George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (26 January 1739 – 29 January 1817).
- Lord Charles Spencer (31 March 1740 – 16 June 1820).
- Lord Robert Spencer (8 May 1747 – 23 June 1831)
Children
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
Diana Spencer (1734-1808) | 1734 | 1 August 1808 | Frederick St. John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke (1732-1787) Topham Beauclerk (1739-1780) |
Elizabeth Spencer (1737-1831) | |||
George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (1739-1817) | 26 January 1739 Althorpe, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom | 30 January 1817 Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom | Caroline Russell (1743-1811) |
Charles Spencer (1740-1820) | 31 March 1740 | 16 June 1820 | Mary Beauclerk (1743-1812) |
Robert Spencer (1747-1831) |
Siblings
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
Frances Spencer (c1696-1742) | 1696 | 27 July 1742 Long Orton, Huntingdonshire, England, United Kingdom | Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle (1694-1758) |
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
Robert Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland (1701-1729) | 24 October 1701 Althorpe, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom | 15 September 1729 Paris, Île-de-France, France | |
Anne Spencer (1702-1769) | |||
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough (1706-1758) | 22 November 1706 Althorp, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom | 20 October 1758 Münster, Westphalia, Germany | Elizabeth Trevor (c1713-1761) |
Robert Spencer (1700-1701) | |||
John Spencer (1708-1746) | 13 May 1708 Althorp, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom | 19 June 1746 Wimbledon, Surrey, England, United Kingdom | Georgiana Carolina Carteret (1716-1780) |
Diana Spencer (1710-1735) | 31 July 1710 Althorp, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom | 27 September 1735 London, England, United Kingdom | John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford (1710-1771) |
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
(unnamed child) Spencer (1718-1718) | |||
(unnamed child) Spencer (1719-1719) | |||
William Spencer (c1720-1722) |
See also
- Charles Spencer
- Spencer-Churchill in Oxfordshire
- Spencer in Northamptonshire
- wikipedia:en:Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough
- Sir Charles Spencer at thePeerage
- Charles Spencer at Genealogics
- British nobility
- This profile prepared courtesy of World of Scouting Members, helping to preserve our shared heritage.
Notes
- ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. "Marlborough, Earls and Dukes of". Encyclopædia Britannica. 17. Cambridge University Press. p. 737.
- ^ Waghorn, H. T. (1899). Cricket Scores, Notes, etc. (1730–1773). Blackwood. p. 18.
- ^ Hicks, Carola (2002-06-19) (in en). Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of an Earlier Lady Diana Spencer. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29157-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=B8gABAAAQBAJ&q=Caroline%2520Spencer%2C%2520Duchess%2520of%2520Marlborough%2520personality&pg=PA83.
- ^ Hicks, Carola (2002-06-19) (in en). Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of an Earlier Lady Diana Spencer. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29157-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=B8gABAAAQBAJ&q=Caroline%2520Spencer%2C%2520Duchess%2520of%2520Marlborough%2520personality&pg=PA83.
- ^ Hicks, Carola (2002-06-19) (in en). Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of an Earlier Lady Diana Spencer. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29157-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=B8gABAAAQBAJ&q=Caroline%2520Spencer%2C%2520Duchess%2520of%2520Marlborough%2520personalitypage&pg=PA83.
Honorary titles | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by The Viscount Cobham |
Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire 1739–1758 |
Succeeded by The Earl Temple |
Preceded by The Earl of Godolphin |
Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire 1739–1758 |
Vacant Title next held by The Duke of Marlborough
|
Political offices | ||
Preceded by The Duke of Devonshire |
Lord Steward 1749–1755 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Rutland |
Preceded by The 1st Earl Gower |
Lord Privy Seal 1755 |
Succeeded by The 2nd Earl Gower |
Military offices | ||
Preceded by Edward Montagu |
Governor of Kingston-upon-Hull 1738–1740 |
Succeeded by James Dormer |
Preceded by Hon. Robert Murray |
Colonel of Charles Spencer's Regiment of Foot 1738–1739 |
Succeeded by Robert Dalzell |
Preceded by Humphrey Gore |
Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Dragoons 1739–1740 |
Succeeded by Henry Hawley |
Preceded by Earl of Hertford |
Captain and Colonel of The Queen's Troop of Horse Guards 1740–1742 |
Succeeded by The Lord Cadogan |
Preceded by The Duke of Cumberland |
Colonel of the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards 1742–1744 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Albemarle |
Preceded by The Duke of Montagu |
Master-General of the Ordnance 1755–1758 |
Vacant Title next held by The Viscount Ligonier
|
Peerage of England | ||
Preceded by Henrietta Godolphin |
Duke of Marlborough 1733–1758 |
Succeeded by George Spencer |
Preceded by Robert Spencer |
Earl of Sunderland 1729–1758 |
|
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Footnotes (including sources)
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