Churchill, John

John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough was born on 24 June 1650 atAshe, Devon, EnglandG.3 He was the son of Sir Winston Churchill andElizabeth Drake.3 He was baptised on 28 June 1650 at Axminster, Devon,EnglandG.3 He married Sarah Jenyns, daughter of Richard Jenyns andFrances Thornhurst, on 1 October 1678.4 He died on 16 June 1722 at age 71at Cranbourne Lodge, Windsor, Berkshire, EnglandG, spms.5 He was buriedon 9 August 1722 at Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London,EnglandG.5 His will (dated 19 March 1721/2) was proven (by probate) on 6July 1722, "bequeathing as heirlooms at Blenheim the gold plate with theElector of Hanover's arms engraved theron, and the diamond sword given tohim by the Emperor".6 He was buried in 1744 at Chapel, Blenheim Palace,Woodstock, Oxfordshire, EnglandG, in accordance with his will.5
He was educated at St. Paul's School, London, EnglandG.3 He gainedthe rank of officer in 1667 in the Army (Foot Guards).3 He held theoffice of Page of Honour to James, Duke of York in 1667.3 He and BarbaraVilliers, Duchess of Cleveland were associated circa 1668.4 He fought inthe campaign in Tangiers between 1668 and 1671.3 He fought in thecampaigns in Flanders from 1672 to 1673, under the Duke of Monmouth.3 Heheld the office of Gentleman of the Bedchamber to James, Duke of York in1673.3 He fought in the Battle of Enzheim in 1674, under the command ofthe French under Vicomte de Turenne.7 He held the office of Master of theWardrobe in 1679.3 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) forNewtown, Isle of Wight between February 1679 and July 1679.3 He wascreated 1st Lord Churchill of Eyemouth, co. Berwick [Scotland] on 21December 1682.8 He gained the rank of Colonel in 1683 in the RoyalDragoons.8 He held the office of Governor of the Hudson's Bay Companyfrom 1683 to 1691.8 He gained the rank of Colonel in November 1683 in theRoyal Regiment of Dragoons.8 He held the office of Ambassador to Francefrom March 1685 to April 1685.8 He was created 1st Baron Churchill ofSandridge, co. Hertford [England] on 14 May 1685.8 He fought in theBattle of Sedgemoor in June 1685, where he defeated the rebels under theDuke of Monmouth.7 He gained the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1688.8 On24 November 1688 he was one of the first to desert the King, using hishatred of Popery as his excuse, supporting the accession of the Princeand Princess of Orange. Gibbs quotes Chesteron, "Churchill, as if to addsomething ideal to his imitation of Iscariot, went to James with wantonprofessions of love and loyalty, went forth in arms as if to defend thecountry from invasion, and then calmly handed over the country to theinvader."8 He fought in the Battle of Walcourt in 1689, where his Dutchforce defeated the French under Marshal d'Humeri?res.9 He held the officeof Gentleman of the Bedchamber from 1689 to 1692.4 He was appointed PrivyCounsellor (P.C.) on 14 February 1688/89.8 He was created 1st Earl ofMarlborough, co. Wilts [England] on 9 April 1689.8 He gained the rank ofcommander in 1690 in the the English forces in the Netherlands.4 In 1692he was dismissed from most of his posts, for well grounded suspicion ofintrigues with the exciled King James II, as well as, according toEvelyn, for 'his excessive taking of bribes, covetousness, and extortionon all occasions, from his inferior officers.4' He held the office ofCabinet Minister in 1698.4 He held the office of Master of the Horse from1698 to 1700.4 He gained the rank of Commander-in-Chief in June 1701 inthe British and Dutch forces in the Netherlands.4 He held the office ofMaster General of the Ordnance in 1702.4 He held the office of Ambassadorto The Hague in 1702.4 He gained the rank of Captain General in 1702 inthe English forces at home and abroad, as well as Generalissmo of theAllied forces.4 He was appointed Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) on 14March 1701/2.4 He was created 1st Marquess of Blandford [England] on 14December 1702.4 He was created 1st Duke of Marlborough [England] on 14December 1702.4 He fought in the Battle of Donauwerth on 2 June 1704 atDonauw?rth, Bayern, GermanyG, against the Bavarians, whom he defeated.4He fought in the Battle of Blenheim on 13 August 1704 at Blindheim,GermanyG, against the French, whom he soundly defeated.4 He was createdPrince John of the Holy Roman Empire [Holy Roman Empire] on 28 August1704, by Emperor Leopold.4 On 28 January 1704/5 he was granted the manorof Woodstock (about 22,000 acres), and the hundred of Wotton inOxfordshire, where he subsequently built Blenheim Palace. The total costof this Palace was ?300,000, of which only ?60,000 was spent by theMarlboroughs, with the balance from the Civil List.4 He fought in theBattle of Tirlemont on 18 July 1705 at TirlemontG.4 He was created PrinceJohn of Mindleheim [Holy Roman Empire]| by the Emperor Joseph, which hesubsequently exchanged in 1713 for the Principality of Mellenburg on 18November 1705.4 He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire from1706 to 1712.4 He fought in the Battle of Ramilles on 23 May 1706 atRamillesG.4 On 21 December 1706 he obtained an Act of Parliament to allowhis title of Duke of Marlborough (and subsidiary titles) to descendthrough his four daughters to their male and female heirs.4 He fought inthe Battle of Oudenarde on 11 July 1708 at Oudenaarde, BelgiumG.4 Hefought in the Battle of Malplaquet on 11 September 1709 at MalplaquetG.4He fought in the Battle of Arluex on 5 August 1711 at Arleux, FranceG.4He fought in the Battle of Bouchain on 13 September 1711 at Bouchain,FranceG.4 On 30 December 1711 he was again dismissed from most of hisoffices, although with the accession of George II, he was restored tomost them in 1714. Jesse writes, "a commission, appointed to examine intothe public accounts, reported that among other evidences of corruptionand abuse, there was full proof of the Duke having received in the shapeof a bribe an annual present of ?5,000 or ?6,000 from the contractors ofbread for the army."4 In 1713 he exchanged the Principality of Mindleheimin Swabia for the county of Mellenburg (then erected into a Principality)in Upper Austria.4
Cockayne quotes Macky, "The Duke of York's love for [ArabellaChurchill] his sister [by whom he was father of the Duke of Berwick andother children] first brought him to Court, and the beauty of his ownperson and his good address so gained on the Duchess of Cleveland [thenmistress to Charles II] that she effectually established him there."Cockayne also claims, "he is said to have intrigued with the said Duchessand to have received large sums of money from her."8

On his death, the Lordship of Churchill of Eyemouth became extinct. Hehas an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of NationalBiography.

Source: www.thepeerage.com

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