Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough

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.


The Duke of Marlborough

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)
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Trevor
Children
Parents
Military service
Allegiance Great Britain
Branch/service British Army
Battles/warsSeven Years' War

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.

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

The amiable Charles was generally well-liked, and he was a loyal husband and loving father. He made sure to write his wife frequently while on military campaigns and always sent his love to their children.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

Titles

Coat of arms of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough, KG, PC
  • 22 November 1706 15 September 1729: The Honourable Charles Spencer
  • 15 September 1729 24 October 1733: The Right Honourable The Earl of Sunderland
  • 24 October 1733 20 October 1758: His Grace The Duke of Marlborough

Ancestry

References

  • Lee, Sidney, ed. (1898). "Spencer, Charles (1706-1758)" . Dictionary of National Biography. 53. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
Notes
  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. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 737.
  2. Waghorn, H. T. (1899). Cricket Scores, Notes, etc. (1730–1773). Blackwood. p. 18.
  3. Hicks, Carola (19 June 2002). Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of an Earlier Lady Diana Spencer. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29157-0.
  4. Hicks, Carola (19 June 2002). Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of an Earlier Lady Diana Spencer. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29157-0.
  5. Hicks, Carola (19 June 2002). Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of an Earlier Lady Diana Spencer. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29157-0.
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Viscount Cobham
Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire
17391758
Succeeded by
The Earl Temple
Preceded by
The Earl of Godolphin
Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire
17391758
Vacant
Title next held by
The Duke of Marlborough
Political offices
Preceded by
The Duke of Devonshire
Lord Steward
17491755
Succeeded by
The Duke of Rutland
Preceded by
The 1st Earl Gower
Lord Privy Seal
1755
Succeeded by
The 2nd Earl Gower
Military offices
Preceded by
Edward Montagu
Governor of Kingston-upon-Hull
17381740
Succeeded by
James Dormer
Preceded by
Hon. Robert Murray
Colonel of Charles Spencer's Regiment of Foot
17381739
Succeeded by
Robert Dalzell
Preceded by
Humphrey Gore
Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Dragoons
17391740
Succeeded by
Henry Hawley
Preceded by
Earl of Hertford
Captain and Colonel of
The Queen's Troop of Horse Guards

17401742
Succeeded by
The Lord Cadogan
Preceded by
The Duke of Cumberland
Colonel of the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards
17421744
Succeeded by
The Earl of Albemarle
Preceded by
The Duke of Montagu
Master-General of the Ordnance
17551758
Vacant
Title next held by
The Viscount Ligonier
Peerage of England
Preceded by
Henrietta Godolphin
Duke of Marlborough
17331758
Succeeded by
George Spencer
Preceded by
Robert Spencer
Earl of Sunderland
17291758

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