Social Victorians/People/Marlborough

Also Known As

 * Family name: Spencer-Churchill
 * the Duke of Marlborough
 * John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke (1 July 1857 – 4 July 1883)
 * George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke (4 July 1883 – 9 November 1892)
 * Sunny (Charles Richard John) Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke (9 November 1892 – 30 June 1934)
 * Consuelo Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill
 * Family name: Vanderbilt
 * Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan
 * the Duchess of Marlborough
 * Frances Anne Emily Vane Spencer-Churchill (1 July 1857 – 4 July 1883)
 * Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Spencer-Churchill (4 July 1883 – 20 November 1883, divorce date)
 * Lily Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (29 June 1888 – 30 April 1895)
 * Consuelo Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill Balsan (6 November 1895 – 1921?, divorce; 4 July 1921? 2nd marriage; 19 August 1926? annulment; 6 December 1964, death)
 * the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough
 * Jane Francis Clinton Stewart Spencer-Churchill, 3rd wife of the 6th Duke (1840 – March 1897)
 * Frances Anne Emily Vane Spencer-Churchill (4 July 1883 – 16 April 1899)
 * The dukedom of Marlborough permits suo jure female inheritance of the title.
 * The subsidiary titles associated with the dukedom of Marlborough include the following:
 * the Marquess of Blandford, a courtesy title for the duke's eldest son and heir presumptive
 * John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Marquess of Blandford (1 July 1857 – 4 July 1883)
 * George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Marquess of Blandford ( – 16 April 1883)
 * Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Marquess of Blandford (4 July 1883 – 9 November 1892)
 * Marchioness of Blandford
 * Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Spencer-Churchill (20 November 1883 – 7 January 1932)
 * the Earl of Sunderland, a courtesy title for the eldest son and heir presumptive of the Marquess of Blandford
 * John Winston Spencer-Churchill (1 July 1857 – 4 July 1883)
 * George Charles Spencer-Churchill (16 April 1883 – 9 November 1892)
 * Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill (13 November 1871 – 4 July 1883)
 * Lord Churchill

Overview
The marriage between Consuelo Vanderbilt and Sunny, Duke of Marlborough was not a happy one.

Friends

 * Consuelo Vanderbilt was named for her godmother, Maria Consuelo Iznaga y Clement Montagu, Duchess of Manchester.

Timeline
1843 July 12, John Winston Spencer-Churchill and Frances Anne Emily Vane married at St. George Street, Mayfair, London.

1869 November 8, George Charles Spencer-Churchill and Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton married at Westminster Palace.

1873 June 9, Fanny Octavia Louise Spencer-Churchill and Edward Marjoribanks married.

1874 April 14, Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill and Jennie Jerome married at the British Embassy in Paris; his parents refused to attend.

1874 June 11, Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill and James Innes-Ker married.

1875, through Christie's John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough sold "the Marlborough Gems" £10,000 and the "Sunderland Library" for £60,000.

1877 July 12, Rosamund Jane Frances Spencer-Churchill and William Fellowes married.

1883, Louis Carré Hamersley, Lily (Lilian) Warren Price Hamersley's first husband, died in New York City.

1883, John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough sold the "Blenheim enamels" for more than £73,000.

1883 June 4, Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill and Richard George Penn Curzon married.

1883 November 20, George Charles and Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Spencer-Churchill divorced.

1884–1885, John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough sold eleven pictures from the Marlborough collection, "with two (Raphael's  'Madonna degli Ansidei'  for £70,000 and Vandyke's  'Equestrian portraits of Charles I' for £17,500) purchased for the nation."

1888 May, Lilian Warren Price Hamersley and George Charles Spencer-Churchill married in a civil ceremony.

1888 June 29, George Charles Spencer-Churchill became the 8th Duke of Marlborough upon the death of his father, and Lilian Warren Price Spencer-Churchill became the Duchess of Marlborough.

1891 November 21, Sarah Isabella Augusta Spencer-Churchill and Gordon Chesney Wilson married.

1892, George Charles Spencer-Churchill died.

1893 June 6, Frances Louisa Spencer-Churchill and Robert Gresley married.

1895 April 30, "Lily" Spencer-Churchill and Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford married, and she became Lady William Beresford.

1895 November 6, Sunny (Charles Richard John) Spencer-Churchill and Consuelo Vanderbilt married at St. Thomas Church, New York City, New York.

1897 July 2, Friday, a number of the members of this family attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House: the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough; Lily, Duchess of Marlborough and William Beresford; Lady Randolph Churchill and her sons Winston and Jack Churchill; Lady Georgiana Spencer-Churchill Curzon; Lady Lillian Maud Spencer-Churchill; Lady Norah Beatrice Henriette Spencer-Churchill; and Lord Churchill.

1897 December, The "Ladies Lilian and Norah Spencer Churchill, the Hon. Mrs. A. Bourke, Mr. and Mrs. Henry White, and Mr. H. Milner" were at a party at Blenheim Palace in December 1897 in which people did tableaux that got reported on, many of whom wore the costumes from the Duchess of Devonshire's ball.

1898 October 6, Lillian Maud Spencer-Churchill and Cecil Grengell married.

1899 April 21, Frances Anne Emily Vane Spencer-Churchill's funeral was held.

1906, Sunny (Charles Richard John) Spencer-Churchill and Consuelo Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill separated.

1909 January 11, Lillian Warren Price Hamersley Spencer-Churchill Beresford died, in Dorking, Surrey.

1920 December 1, Norah Beatrice Henriette Spencer-Churchill and Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt married.

1921, Sunny (Charles Richard John) Spencer-Churchill and Consuelo Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill divorced.

1926 August 19, the marriage between Sunny (Charles Richard John) Spencer-Churchill and Consuelo Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill was annulled.

Spencer-Churchill Family Attending

 * Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough (#174 on the list of people who were present)
 * Sunny, Duke of Marlborough (#142)
 * Lily, Duchess of Marlborough (#193) and William Beresford, her husband (#581)
 * Lady Georgiana Spencer-Churchill Curzon (#168)
 * Lady Lillian Maud Spencer-Churchill (#571)
 * Lady Norah Beatrice Henriette Spencer-Churchill (#572)
 * Lord Churchill (#611)
 * Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Spencer-Churchill, Marchioness of Blandford (#601)
 * Jennie (Lady Randolph) Churchill (#132), Winston Churchill (#179), and Jack Churchill (#223)

Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough
At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Consuelo Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough was one of the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court of Catherine II of Russia. She sat at Table 7 in the first supper seating.

Alexander Bassano's portrait (right) of "Consuelo Vanderbilt as the wife of the French Ambassador at the Court of Catherine of Russia" in costume is photogravure #111 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery The printing on the portrait says, "The Duchess of Marlborough as the wife of the French Ambassador at the Court of Catherine of Russia," with a Long S in Duchess, Ambassador and Russia.
 * "The young Duchess of Marlborough was charming in a pale green sacque costume, with pink roses and silver embroidery, and black feathers and roses in her slightly powdered hair."
 * "The Duchess of Marlborough came in a pale green and silver dress with Watteau back, and garlanded with little pink roses, matching those worn with black plumes in her hair."
 * "Lady Raincliffe took the part of Catherine II. of Russia in a dress of white satin. The front was wrought in raised gold in a large pattern of conventionalised pomegranate spinging [sic] from a crown raised in gold at the hem, the fruit studded with rubies. In her suite were Lady Margaret Spicer as Countess Soltykoff, the Duchess of Marlborough in a superbly-handsome dress of the same period; the Duchess of Newcastle; Lady Henry Bentinck; the Countess of Yarborough; Lady Mildred Denison; and the Hon. Mrs. Erskine and her daughter."

She and Sunny (Charles), Duke of Marlborough went as the French Ambassador to the Court of Catherine of Russia and his wife.

Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough was pregnant at the time with her son John Spencer-Churchill, who was born on 18 September 1897, two months later. In her memoir, she says,"The fancy dress ball at Devonshire House was a fitting climax to a brilliant season. the ball lasted to the early hours of morning, and the sun was rising as I walked through Green Park to Spencer House, where we then lived. On the grass lay the dregs of humanity. / Human beings too dispirited or sunk to find work or favour, they sprawled in sodden stupor, pitiful representatives of the submerged tenth. In my billowing period dress, I must have seemed to them a vision of wealth and youth, and I thought soberly that they must hate me. But they only looked, and some even had a compliment to enliven my progress."She does not see the role of the poverty of the people sleeping in Green Park. She sees no relationship between her own wealth and their poverty.



Charles, Duke of Marlborough
Sunny (Charles Richard John) Spencer-Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough was one of the Gentlemen of the Court of Catherine II of Russia and sat at Table 2 in the first seating for supper.

A caricature portrait (right) of "Blenheim Palace" (Sunny, Duke of Marlborough) by Leslie Ward ("Spy") appeared in the 22 September 1898 issue of Vanity Fair, as Number 699 in its "Statesmen" series.

Alexander Bassano's portrait (below left) of "Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough as the French Ambassador at the Court of Catherine of Russia" in costume is photogravure #112 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "The Duke of Marlborough as the French Ambassador at the Court of Catherine of Russia," with a Long S in Ambassador and Russia.

The Duke of Marlborough's Costume
The Duke of Marlborough's costume was made by the House of Worth and cost £8,600, "£860,000 in today’s money."

No newspaper reported a description of his costume.

In her review of The House of Worth: Portrait of an Archive, Gormally says,"The Duke of Marlborough chose to represent himself at this 1897 event as the French Ambassador to the Court of Catherine II of Russia. He went to Worth with some family jewels and paid 5000 francs for a cos- tume made from a specially woven historical design in white and gold damask. According to Jean Worth, “Each pearl and diamond was sewn on by hand, and it took several girls almost a month to complete this embroidery of jewels” (p. 115). (120)"

Lily, Duchess of Marlborough and William Beresford
Lily, Duchess of Marlborough (at 193) sat at Table 7 in the first supper seating, escorted in by Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquis of Lansdowne. William Beresford (at 581) also attended.

Lord Churchill
Lord Churchill (at 611) was dressed as Columbus, wearing "brown silk tunic beautifully embroidered and slashed with satin of a paler shade; trunks to correspond; brown brocaded robe with satin revers; sword, hat, and feathers."

He was also at the January 1898 party at Blenheim Palace when people wore their costumes again.

This Lord Churchill may be Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill (28 March 1853 – 5 May 1911), the half-brother of John Winston Spencer-Churchill (7th Duke of Marlborough). He was married to Augusta Warburton Spencer-Churchill (1854 – 1 September 1941) ; if Lord Churchill is Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill, did Lady Augusta Spencer-Churchill attend?

Marchioness of Blandford
Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Spencer-Churchill, Marchioness of Blandford (at 601) was dressed as an "Abbess of [the] sixteenth century" :


 * "Lady Blandford made a very pretty Abbess, dressed in grey."
 * She wore "grey satin gown; train lined ermine; bodice embroidered with cross; rosary and cross."

She was the mother of Sunny Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough at this point.

Lilian and Norah Spencer-Churchill
Lillian Maud Spencer-Churchill (at 571) went as Norah Beatrice Henriette Spencer-Churchill (at 572) went as Alexander Bassano's portrait of "Lady Norah Beatrice Henriette Bradley-Birt (née Spencer Churchill) and Lady Lilian Maud Grenfell (née Spencer-Churchill) as Watteau Shepherdesses" in costume is photogravure #113 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "The Ladies Churchill as Watteau Shepherdesses," with a Long S in Shepherdesses.
 * a Watteau shepherdess.
 * a Watteau shepherdess.

Demographics

 * Nationality: English
 * Lily Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough: American

Consuelo Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill

 * Nationality: American
 * Divorce, 1921
 * 2nd marriage, 4 July 1921
 * Annulment, 19 August 1926

Duke of Marlborough Residences

 * Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire

Family

 * John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough (2 June 1822 – 4 July 1883)
 * Frances Anne Emily Vane Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (15 April 1822 – 16 April 1899)
 * 1) George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough (13 May 1844 – 9 November 1892)
 * 2) Frederick John Winston Spencer-Churchill (2 February 1846 – 5 August 1850)
 * 3) Cornelia Henrietta Maria Spencer-Churchill Guest (17 September 1847 – 22 January 1927)
 * 4) Rosamund Jane Frances Spencer-Churchill Fellowes (died 3 December 1920)
 * 5) Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill (13 February 1849 – 24 January 1895)
 * 6) Fanny Octavia Louise Spencer-Churchill Marjoribanks (29 January 1853 – 5 August 1904)
 * 7) Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill Innes-Ker (14 November 1854 – 20 June 1923)
 * 8) Charles Ashley Spencer-Churchill (1856 – 11 March 1858)
 * 9) Augustus Robert Spencer-Churchill (4 July 1858 – 12 May 1859)
 * 10) Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill Curzon (14 May 1860 – 9 February 1906)
 * 11) Sarah Isabella Augusta Spencer-Churchill Wilson (1865 – 22 October 1929)


 * George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough (13 May 1844 – 9 November 1892)
 * Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton, Duchess of Marlborough (29 July 1847 – 7 January 1932)
 * 1) Frances Louisa Spencer-Churchill Gresley (15 September 1870 – 13 November 1954)
 * 2) Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough (13 November 1871 – 30 June 1934)
 * 3) Lillian Maud Spencer-Churchill Grengell (9 July 1873 – 4 January 1951)
 * 4) Norah Beatrice Henriette Spencer-Churchill Bradley-Birt (1 September 1875 – 28 April 1946)
 * Edith Peers-Williams ( – 1897) (not married)
 * 1) Guy Bertrand Spencer (4 November 1881 – 31 March 1950)
 * Lily (Lilian Warren) Price, Duchess of Marlborough (10 June 1854 – 11 January 1909)
 * Commodore Cicero Price
 * Elizabeth Homer Paine Price
 * 1) unknown number of children
 * 2) Lily (Lilian) Warren Price (10 June 1854 – 11 January 1909)


 * Lily (Lilian Warren Price) Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (10 June 1854 – 11 January 1909)
 * Louis Carré Hamersley
 * George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough (13 May 1844 – 9 November 1892)
 * John Beresford, 4th Marquess of Beresford


 * Sunny (Charles Richard John) Spencer-Churchill, 9th Marquess of Blandford (later 9th Duke of Marlborough) (13 November 1871 – 30 June 1934)
 * Consuelo Vanderbilt (2 March 1877 – 6 December 1964)
 * 1) John Albert William Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough (18 September 1897 – 11 March 1972)
 * 2) Ivor Spencer-Churchill (14 October 1898 – 17 September 1956)

Relations

 * Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill (28 March 1853 – 5 May 1911) was the half-brother of John Winston Spencer-Churchill (7th Duke of Marlborough) ; he was married to Augusta Warburton Spencer-Churchill (1854 – 1 September 1941).

Questions and Notes

 * 1) Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Spencer-Churchill was technically Albertha, Duchess of Marlborough after her divorce, but she returned to the title Albertha, Marchioness of Blandford.