His Grace
The Duke of Marlborough
KG PC
Portrait by Joshua Reynolds c. 1759
Lord Privy Seal
In office
8 June 1755 – 22 December 1755
MonarchGeorge II
Prime MinisterThe Duke of Newcastle
Preceded byThe Earl Gower
Succeeded byThe Earl Gower
Lord Steward of the Household
In office
1749–1755
MonarchGeorge II
Prime MinisterHenry Pelham
The Duke of Newcastle
Preceded byThe Duke of Devonshire
Succeeded byThe Duke of Rutland
Personal details
Born22 November 1706
Died20 October 1758(1758-10-20) (aged 51)
SpouseElizabeth Trevor
Children
Parents
Military service
Allegiance Great Britain
Branch/service British Army
Battles/warsSeven Years' War

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.

Early life

A young Charles Spencer, painted by John Vanderbank

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.[citation needed]

Seven Years War

Further information: Great Britain in the 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 in 1758, he led the British expeditionary force sent to join Ferdinand of Brunswick's Army of Observation on Continental Europe, but died the same year, leaving command to John Manners, Marquess of Granby.

Marriage and children

He married The Hon. Elizabeth Trevor (c. 1713 – 1761), daughter of Thomas Trevor, 2nd Baron Trevor. They had five children:

Personal life

Quartered arms of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough, KG

The amiable Charles was generally well-liked, and he was a loyal husband and loving father. He made sure to write to his wife frequently while on military campaigns and always sent his love to their children.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8]

Titles

Ancestry

References

  1. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Marlborough, Earls and Dukes of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 737.
  2. ^ Waghorn, H. T. (1899). Cricket Scores, Notes, etc. (1730–1773). Blackwood. p. 18.
  3. ^ The Third Register Book of the Parish of St James in the Liberty of Westminster For Births & Baptisms. 1723-1741. 19 January 1737.
  4. ^ The Third Register Book of the Parish of St James in the Liberty of Westminster For Births & Baptisms. 1723-1741. 26 February 1738.
  5. ^ The Third Register Book of the Parish of St James in the Liberty of Westminster For Births & Baptisms. 1723-1741. 18 April 1740.
  6. ^ Hicks, Carola (19 June 2002). Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of an Earlier Lady Diana Spencer. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29157-0.
  7. ^ Hicks, Carola (19 June 2002). Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of an Earlier Lady Diana Spencer. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29157-0.
  8. ^ Hicks, Carola (19 June 2002). Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of an Earlier Lady Diana Spencer. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29157-0.

External Sources


Honorary titles Preceded byThe Viscount Cobham Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire 1739–1758 Succeeded byThe Earl Temple Preceded byThe Earl of Godolphin Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire 1739–1758 VacantTitle next held byThe Duke of Marlborough Political offices Preceded byThe Duke of Devonshire Lord Steward 1749–1755 Succeeded byThe Duke of Rutland Preceded byThe 1st Earl Gower Lord Privy Seal 1755 Succeeded byThe 2nd Earl Gower Military offices Preceded byEdward Montagu Governor of Kingston-upon-Hull 1738–1740 Succeeded byJames Dormer Preceded byHon. Robert Murray Colonel of 38th Regiment of Foot 1738–1739 Succeeded byRobert Dalzell Preceded byHumphrey Gore Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Dragoons 1739–1740 Succeeded byHenry Hawley Preceded byEarl of Hertford Captain and Colonel ofThe Queen's Troop of Horse Guards 1740–1742 Succeeded byThe Lord Cadogan Preceded byThe Duke of Cumberland Colonel of the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards 1742–1744 Succeeded byThe Earl of Albemarle Preceded byThe Duke of Montagu Master-General of the Ordnance 1755–1758 VacantTitle next held byThe Viscount Ligonier Peerage of England Preceded byHenrietta Godolphin Duke of Marlborough 1733–1758 Succeeded byGeorge Spencer Preceded byRobert Spencer Earl of Sunderland 1729–1758
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