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The Dukedom of Marlborough (pronounced "Maulbruh") is a hereditary title of British nobility. The first holder of the title was John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650 - 1722), the noted English/British general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly be a reference to this man.The Duke of Marlborough holds certain subsidiary titles: Marquess of Blandford (created 1702), Earl of Sunderland (1643), Earl of Marlborough (1689), Baron Spencer of Wormleighton (1603), Baron Churchill of Sandridge (1685) and Lord Churchill of Eyemouth (1682). (Lord Churchill of Eyemouth is in the Scottish peerage, while the rest are in the English peerage.) 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 in turn can use the courtesy title Earl of Sunderland.
The later Dukes of Marlborough are descended from the first duke, but not in the male line. Because the first duke had no sons, the title was allowed (by a special Act of Parliament) to pass to his eldest daughter in her own right. A younger daughter, Lady Anne Churchill , married Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland (c. 1674 - 1722), and from this marriage descend the modern Dukes of Marlborough. They therefore originally bore the surname Spencer. However, George Spencer, the 5th Duke of Marlborough, obtained a Royal Licence to assume and bear the additional surname and arms of his famous ancestor, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, and thus became George Spencer-Churchill. This double-barrelled surname has remained in the family to this day.
The 7th Duke of Marlborough was the paternal grandfather of the British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
The present Duke of Marlborough is John George Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough.
The title of Earl of Marlborough, which was created for Churchill in 1689, had been created one time previously in British history, for James Ley , in 1626. This title had become extinct in 1679.
1 Earls of Marlborough, first creation ( 1626)
- James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough ( 1552- 1629)
- Henry Ley, 2nd Earl of Marlborough ( 1595Events January 30 William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is performed for the first time June 9 Battle of Fontaine-Francaise. Henry IV of France defeats the Spanish, but is nearly killed due to his rashness. October 28 Battle of Guirgevo. Transylvanian fo- 1638Events March 29 Swedish colonists establish first settlement in Delaware, called New Sweden April 15 Shogunate forces defeat the last rebels of Shimabara Rebellion in the fortress of Hara May 11 French admiral d'Estrees runs his whole fleet aground in Cur)
- James Ley, 3rd Earl of Marlborough ( 1618Events March 8 Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion (he soon rejects the idea after some initial calculations were made but on May 15 confirms the discovery). The margraves of Brandenburg is granted Polish approval to inherit Ducal- 1665Events March 4 Start of the Second Anglo-Dutch War March 6 Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society begins publication March 16 Bucharest allows Jews to settle in the city in exchange of annual tax of 16 guilders June 3 The Duke of York defeats the)
- William Ley, 4th Earl of Marlborough ( 1612Events January 20 Mathias becomes Holy Roman Emperor. Antonius Magirus's Koock-boeck ofte Familieren kevken-boeck is published. Popular uprising in Moscow expels Polish troops. Trial of the witches in Pendle, Lancashire is held. Births Thomas Fairfax, Eng- 1679)
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