John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough

The Most Noble John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (May 26, 1650 – June 16, 1722), in full The Most Noble Captain-General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Earl of Marlborough, Baron Churchill of Sandridge, Lord Churchill of Eyemouth, KG, PC (in addition to these English and Scottish titles he was also Prince of Mindelheim and a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire), was an English military officer during the War of the Spanish Succession. Churchill is generally considered the greatest military genius that Britain has produced. Historian Sir Edward Creasy wrote that " never fought a battle that he did not win, and never besieged a place that he did not take."

Descendants

Marlborough and his wife had five children:

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• Harriet, (October 1679 - bef. 1698)
• Henrietta, (July 19, 1681 - October 24, 1733)
• Anne, (February 27, 1683 - April 15, 1716)
• John, Marquess of Blandford, (February 13, 1686 - February 20, 1703)
• Elizabeth, (March 15, 1687 - March 22, 1714)
• Mary (July 15, 1689 - May 14, 1751)
• Charles (August 19, 1690 - May 22, 1692)

When Churchill's sons predeceased him, the title was allowed by a special Act of Parliament to pass to his eldest daughter in her own right. The title thus passed to Lady Henrietta Churchill. Lady Anne Churchill, married Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, and from this marriage descend the modern Dukes of Marlborough.

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Before his marriage, Marlborough was also associated with Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland. Her youngest child, Barbara, is assumed by most historians to be Churchill's daughter.

Related Topics:
Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland - Barbara

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