Duchess of Marlborough

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Duchess of Marlborough(1731 to 1774)

Duchess of Marlborough formerly known as Sarah Churchill,
by Michael Dahl circa 1695-1700. Oil painting on Canvas, oval, actual size is 29 1/2 in. x 24 3/4 in. (749 mm x 629 mm)

On display at Beningbrough Hall

Born Sarah Jennings on May 29, 1660, Sandridge, Hertfordshire, she was a childhood friend and of Princess Anne, and entered the household of Anne's father, the Duke of York (the future James II) in 1673. She married John Churchill secretly during the winter of 1677-78. Churchill's parents opposed an unremunerative match, however with the Duchess of Yorks assistance the couple were married.

Princess Anne came to depend on Sarah, and they addressed each other as Mrs. Morley and Mrs. Freeman. On Anne's marriage (1683) she was appointed lady of the bedchamber and became a close confidante. In 1688 Sarah escorted Anne to meet the Prince of Orange persuading her to accept the statutory settlement of the succession.

Owing to the political disgrace of her husband in 1692 Queen Mary compelled Anne to dismiss Sarah from her services. However, after Mary's death in 1694 the Duchess returned to favour, and maintained a close relationship with Anne (who became Queen in 1702) until 1705.

Queen Anne had High Church sympathies, unlike Sarah who was a strong Whig. They began to quarrel over Whig cabinet appointments. Until then Sarah had held considerable influence at court, but gradually Tory Leader Robert Harley used Mrs. Abigail Masham (later Lady) to replace Sarah in Anne's affections by 1707. In 1710 the Whigs and Sarah lost power and was finally dismissed in 1711. The Marlboroughs settled at Frankfurt am Main in 1713. After the Hanoverian accession they returned to Blenheim. Her husband died in 1722. She supervised completion of the building of Blenheim Palace, quarreling bitterly with its architect, Sir John Vanbrugh, and with most of her relatives.

The Duchess of Marlborough purchased Putnoe, along with Willington, Ravensden, Goldington and Cople from Sir William Gostwick, 5th Baronet of Willington for £51,000 on 25th November 1731.

The Duchess died at Marlborough House in London in 1744. Her daughter Elizabeth Churchill married Scroop Egerton, duke of Bridgewater in 1703. Their only daughter, Anne married in 1725 Wriotesley Russell, who was briefly 3rd Duke of Bedford around 1711. His younger brother, John Russell, became 4th duke of Bedford, and his son Francis Russell 5th Duke of Bedford purchased Putnoe from the Duchess of Marlboroughs estate in 1774.


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