Frances Anne Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Encyclopedia
Frances, Duchess of Marlborough & Marchioness of Blandford (born Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane) (15 April 1822 – 16 April 1899), was an Anglo-Irish
noblewoman, the wife of British peer and statesman John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough
. One of her sons, Lord Randolph Churchill
was the father of Prime Minister
Sir Winston Churchill
. She had a total of 11 children, and her principal home was the monumental Blenheim Palace
, which she had rejuvenated with her "lavish and exciting entertainments", and transformed into a "social and political focus for the life of the nation".
She was invested as a Lady of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
. due to her efforts at famine relief in Ireland.
house in St James Square, London
, England, the eldest daughter of Irish-born Charles William Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry and heiress Lady Frances Anne Vane-Tempest
. At her baptism
, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
stood as her godfather
. She had three brothers, including George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry
, and two younger sisters. She had an older half-brother Frederick Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry
, by her father's first marriage to Lady Catherine Bligh.
She was known by the nickname of Fanny.
, London
, Lady Frances married John Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford
. Upon her marriage she was styled Marchioness of Blandford. The couple made their principal home at the Spencer-Churchill family seat of Blenheim Palace
in Woodstock, Oxfordshire
.
The marriage produced 11 children:
as a "woman of remarkable character and capacity, judicious and tactful". Her face had more strength than beauty and her eyes were either warm or hard, never lacklustre.
She ruled Blenheim Palace
and its household with an iron hand; yet it was she who rejuvenated the palace with her lavish and gay entertainments which she herself organized; transforming the palace "into a social and political focus for the life of the nation".
She was a domineering yet devoted mother; both of her surviving sons' marriages were a disappointment to her. Her eldest son George had married a woman described as stupid, pious and dull, while her youngest and favorite son, Lord Randolph had earned her displeasure by marrying, against the wishes of both herself and the Duke, the wealthy and beautiful American
socialite Jennie Jerome, whom Frances openly disliked.
Frances and her husband refused to attend Lord Randolph and Jennie's wedding which took place on Frances's 52nd birthday. Like the rest of the 19th-century British aristocracy, the Marlboroughs regarded American women as "strange and abnormal creatures with habits and manners something between a Red Indian and a Gaiety Girl". When the newly-wed couple moved to their home in Curzon Street in London, Frances arrived to help Jennie pay her first visits to the leaders of London society. She lent her some of her own jewels for the occasion, and the two women traveled in the Marlborough family coach.
Frances featured largely in the lives of the younger members of the family, including her grandson Winston, to whom she often acted as a substitute mother.
From 1876 to 1880 her husband served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
. As the result of her diligent efforts at famine relief in which she displayed humanity, proficiency and leadership that served to avert the effects of the 1879 Irish potato famine
, she was invested as a Lady of the Order of Victoria and Albert by Queen Victoria
.
at her London home in Grosvenor Square
. She never stopped mourning the loss of Lord Randolph, and she harbored much resentment against her daughter-in-law Jennie, whom she criticised for not behaving like a grieving widow. Frances herself died at Blenheim on 16 April 1899, the day after her 77th birthday, having outlived five of her eleven children. She was buried on 21 April 1899 in the family vault
beneath Blenheim Chapel.
Her grandson Sir Winston Churchill
wrote of Frances: "She was a woman of exceptional capacity, energy and decision".
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
noblewoman, the wife of British peer and statesman John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough
John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough
John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, KG, PC , styled Earl of Sunderland from 1822 to 1840 and Marquess of Blandford from 1840 to 1857, was a British statesman and nobleman...
. One of her sons, Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill MP was a British statesman. He was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane , daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
was the father of Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. She had a total of 11 children, and her principal home was the monumental Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, residence of the dukes of Marlborough. It is the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between...
, which she had rejuvenated with her "lavish and exciting entertainments", and transformed into a "social and political focus for the life of the nation".
She was invested as a Lady of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert was a British Royal Family Order instituted in on 10 February 1862 by Queen Victoria, and enlarged on 10 October 1864; 15 November 1865; and 15 March 1880. No awards were made after the death of Queen Victoria....
. due to her efforts at famine relief in Ireland.
Family
Lady Frances was born on 15 April 1822 at the Duke of St Albans'sWilliam Beauclerk, 8th Duke of St Albans
William Beauclerk, 8th Duke of St Albans was the son of Aubrey Beauclerk, 5th Duke of St Albans.He married, firstly, Charlotte Thelwell , on 20 July 1791....
house in St James Square, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, the eldest daughter of Irish-born Charles William Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry and heiress Lady Frances Anne Vane-Tempest
Frances Anne Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry
Frances Anne Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry was a wealthy English heiress and noblewoman. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Vane-Tempest, 2nd Baronet and the second wife of Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
. At her baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
stood as her godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
. She had three brothers, including George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry
George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry
George Henry Robert Charles William Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry KP , styled Viscount Seaham between 1823 and 1854 and known as The Earl Vane between 1854 and 1872, was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, businessman, diplomat and Conservative politician.-Background and education:Born George...
, and two younger sisters. She had an older half-brother Frederick Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry
Frederick Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry
Frederick William Robert Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry KP, PC , styled Viscount Castlereagh between 1822 and 1854, was an Anglo-Irish nobleman and Tory politician...
, by her father's first marriage to Lady Catherine Bligh.
She was known by the nickname of Fanny.
Marriage and issue
On 12 July 1843 at St. George Street, MayfairMayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Lady Frances married John Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford
John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough
John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, KG, PC , styled Earl of Sunderland from 1822 to 1840 and Marquess of Blandford from 1840 to 1857, was a British statesman and nobleman...
. Upon her marriage she was styled Marchioness of Blandford. The couple made their principal home at the Spencer-Churchill family seat of Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, residence of the dukes of Marlborough. It is the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between...
in Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Woodstock is a small town northwest of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. It is the location of Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in 1874 and is buried in the nearby village of Bladon....
.
The marriage produced 11 children:
- George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of MarlboroughGeorge Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of MarlboroughGeorge Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough DL , styled Earl of Sunderland until 1857 and Marquess of Blandford between 1857 and 1883, was a British peer.-Background and education:...
(13 May 1844 – 9 November 1892) - Lord Frederick John Winston Spencer-Churchill (2 February 1846 – 5 August 1850)
- Lady Cornelia Henrietta Maria Spencer-Churchill (17 September 1847 – Upper Brook Street, Mayfair, LondonMayfairMayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, 22 January 1927), married 25 May 1868 Ivor Bertie Guest, 1st Baron WimborneIvor Bertie Guest, 1st Baron WimborneIvor Bertie Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne was a Welsh industrialist.Sir Ivor Bertie Guest was born at Dowlais, near Merthyr Tydfil, the son of Lady Charlotte Guest, translator of the Mabinogion, and Sir John Josiah Guest, owner of the world's largest iron foundry:Dowlais Ironworks...
, by whom she had issue. - Lady Rosamund Jane Frances Spencer-Churchill (died 3 December 1920), married 12 July 1877 William Fellowes, 2nd Baron de RamseyWilliam Fellowes, 2nd Baron de RamseyWilliam Henry Fellowes, 2nd Baron de Ramsey , was a British Conservative politician.De Ramsey was the eldest son of Edward Fellowes, 1st Baron de Ramsey, and Hon. Mary Julia Milles. Ailwyn Fellowes, 1st Baron Ailwyn, was his younger brother...
, by whom she had issue - Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-ChurchillLord Randolph ChurchillLord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill MP was a British statesman. He was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane , daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
(13 February 1849 – 24 January 1895), married 15 April 1874 Jennie Jerome, father of Sir Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
and John Strange Spencer-ChurchillJohn Strange Spencer-ChurchillMajor John Strange "Jack" Spencer-Churchill, DSO, TD was the younger son of Lord Randolph Churchill and Lady Randolph Churchill , and brother of World War II Prime Minster, Sir Winston Churchill....
. - Lady Fanny Octavia Louise Spencer-Churchill (29 January 1853 – 5 August 1904), married 9 June 1873 Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron TweedmouthEdward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron TweedmouthEdward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth KT, PC was a British Liberal Party statesman who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 until 1894 when he inherited his peerage and then sat in the House of Lords...
, by whom she had issue. - Lady Anne Emily Spencer-ChurchillAnne Innes-Ker, Duchess of RoxburgheAnne Emily Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe VA OBE was born Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill, and was the daughter of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, who served in Conservative governments as Lord President of the Council and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland...
(Lower Brook Street, Mayfair, LondonMayfairMayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, 14 November 1854 – South Audley Street, Mayfair, LondonMayfairMayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, 20 June 1923), married 11 June 1874 James Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of RoxburgheJames Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of RoxburgheJames Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of Roxburghe , became Duke of Roxburghe on the death of his father, James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 6th Duke of Roxburghe, his mother was Susanna Dalbiac....
, by whom she had issue. - Lord Charles Ashley Spencer-Churchill (1856 – 11 March 1858)
- Lord Augustus Robert Spencer-Churchill (4 July 1858 – 12 May 1859)
- Lady Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill (10 St James's Square, St James's, London, 14 May 1860 – 9 February 1906), married 4 June 1883 Richard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl HoweRichard Curzon, 4th Earl HoweRichard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl Howe GCVO, TD, JP , styled Viscount Curzon between 1876 and 1900, was a British courtier and Conservative politician...
, by whom she had issue. - Lady Sarah Isabella Augusta Spencer-ChurchillLady Sarah WilsonLady Sarah Isabella Augusta Wilson , was the youngest daughter of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough and Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane, aunt of Winston Spencer Churchill. In 1899 she became the first woman war correspondent when she was recruited by Alfred Harmsworth to cover the Siege...
(1865 – 22 October 1929), a war correspondent during the Boer WarBoer WarThe Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
; married 21 November 1891 Lt. Col. Gordon Chesney Wilson (son of Sir Samuel Wilson, MP)
Duchess of Marlborough
On 1 July 1857, her husband succeeded to the title of 7th Duke of Marlborough, and from that date henceforth, Frances was styled Duchess of Marlborough. She was a commanding and hot-tempered woman described in The Complete PeerageThe Complete Peerage
The Complete Peerage The Complete Peerage The Complete Peerage (full title: The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom Extant, Extinct, or Dormant; first edition by George Edward Cokayne, Clarenceux King of Arms; 2nd edition revised by the Hon...
as a "woman of remarkable character and capacity, judicious and tactful". Her face had more strength than beauty and her eyes were either warm or hard, never lacklustre.
She ruled Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, residence of the dukes of Marlborough. It is the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between...
and its household with an iron hand; yet it was she who rejuvenated the palace with her lavish and gay entertainments which she herself organized; transforming the palace "into a social and political focus for the life of the nation".
She was a domineering yet devoted mother; both of her surviving sons' marriages were a disappointment to her. Her eldest son George had married a woman described as stupid, pious and dull, while her youngest and favorite son, Lord Randolph had earned her displeasure by marrying, against the wishes of both herself and the Duke, the wealthy and beautiful American
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
socialite Jennie Jerome, whom Frances openly disliked.
Frances and her husband refused to attend Lord Randolph and Jennie's wedding which took place on Frances's 52nd birthday. Like the rest of the 19th-century British aristocracy, the Marlboroughs regarded American women as "strange and abnormal creatures with habits and manners something between a Red Indian and a Gaiety Girl". When the newly-wed couple moved to their home in Curzon Street in London, Frances arrived to help Jennie pay her first visits to the leaders of London society. She lent her some of her own jewels for the occasion, and the two women traveled in the Marlborough family coach.
Frances featured largely in the lives of the younger members of the family, including her grandson Winston, to whom she often acted as a substitute mother.
From 1876 to 1880 her husband served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
. As the result of her diligent efforts at famine relief in which she displayed humanity, proficiency and leadership that served to avert the effects of the 1879 Irish potato famine
Irish Famine (1879)
The Irish famine of 1879 was the last main Irish famine. Unlike the earlier Great Famines of 1740-1741 and 1845-1849 the 1879 famine caused hunger rather than mass deaths, due to changes in the technology of food production, different structures of land-holding The Irish famine of 1879 was the...
, she was invested as a Lady of the Order of Victoria and Albert by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
Death
She became a widow in 1883, lost her eldest son, George, in 1892, and on 24 January 1895, her only surviving son Lord Randolph Churchill died of syphilisSyphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
at her London home in Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square is a large garden square in the exclusive Mayfair district of London, England. It is the centrepiece of the Mayfair property of the Duke of Westminster, and takes its name from their surname, "Grosvenor".-History:...
. She never stopped mourning the loss of Lord Randolph, and she harbored much resentment against her daughter-in-law Jennie, whom she criticised for not behaving like a grieving widow. Frances herself died at Blenheim on 16 April 1899, the day after her 77th birthday, having outlived five of her eleven children. She was buried on 21 April 1899 in the family vault
Burial vault (tomb)
A burial vault is a structural underground tomb.It is a stone or brick-lined underground space or 'burial' chamber for the interment of a dead body or bodies. They were originally and are still often vaulted and usually have stone slab entrances...
beneath Blenheim Chapel.
Her grandson Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
wrote of Frances: "She was a woman of exceptional capacity, energy and decision".