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.

His Grace The Duke of Marlborough KG PC
Lord Privy Seal
In office 1755–1755
Monarch	George II
Prime Minister	The Duke of Newcastle
Preceded by	The Earl Gower
Succeeded by	The Earl Gower
Lord Steward of the Household
In office 1749–1755
Monarch	George II
Prime Minister	Henry Pelham The Duke of Newcastle
Preceded by	The Duke of Devonshire
Succeeded by	The Duke of Rutland
Personal details
Born	22 November 1706
Died	20 October 1758(1758-10-20) (aged 51)
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Trevor
Children	Lady Diana Beauclerk Elizabeth Herbert, Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough Lord Charles Spencer Lord Robert Spencer
Parents	Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland Lady Anne Churchill
Military service
Allegiance	Great Britain
Branch/service	British Army
Battles/wars	Seven 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 he led the British expeditionary force sent to join Ferdinand of Brunswick's Army of Observation on Continental Europe but died in 1758, 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:

• Lady Diana Spencer (1734–1808). Married first Frederick St John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke and secondly Topham Beauclerk.
• Elizabeth Herbert, Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery (January/March 1737 – 30 April 1831). Married Henry Herbert, 10th Earl of Pembroke.
• George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (26 January 1739 – 29 January 1817).
• Lord Charles Spencer (31 March 1740 – 16 June 1820).
• Lord Robert Spencer (8 May 1747 – 23 June 1831)

Personal Life

The amiable Charles was generally well-liked, and he was a loyal husband and loving father. He made sure to frequently write his wife 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

Ancestors of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough

16. William Spencer, 2nd Baron Spencer of Wormleighton 8. Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland 17. Lady Penelope Wriothesley 4. Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland 18. Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester 9. Lady Dorothy Sidney 19. Lady Dorothy Percy 2. Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland 20. John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol 10. George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol 21. Beatrice Walcott 5. Lady Anne Digby 22. Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford 11. Lady Anne Russell 23. The Hon. Catherine Brydges 1. Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough 24. Sir John Churchill 12. Sir Winston Churchill 25. Sarah Winston 6. John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough 26. Sir John Drake 13. Elizabeth Drake 27. Hon. Eleanor Boteler 3. Lady Anne Churchill 28. Sir John Jennings 14. Sir Richard Jennings 29. Alice Spencer 7. Sarah Jennings 30. Sir Gifford Thornhurst, 1st Baronet 15. Frances Thornhurst 31. Susanna Temple

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. https://books.google.com/books?id=B8gABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=Caroline+Spencer,+Duchess+of+Marlborough+personality&source=bl&ots=uvfVPc8pib&sig=ACfU3U1bKmfIxCumPCVHOllnP7R5CWS_jA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwja69iNiMHqAhXPHM0KHYkQCjEQ6AEwDXoECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=Caroline%20Spencer%2C%20Duchess%20of%20Marlborough%20personality&f=false page 82
4. https://books.google.com/books?id=B8gABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=Caroline+Spencer,+Duchess+of+Marlborough+personality&source=bl&ots=uvfVPc8pib&sig=ACfU3U1bKmfIxCumPCVHOllnP7R5CWS_jA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwja69iNiMHqAhXPHM0KHYkQCjEQ6AEwDXoECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=Caroline%20Spencer%2C%20Duchess%20of%20Marlborough%20personality&f=false page 82
5. https://books.google.com/books?id=B8gABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=Caroline+Spencer,+Duchess+of+Marlborough+personality&source=bl&ots=uvfVPc8pib&sig=ACfU3U1bKmfIxCumPCVHOllnP7R5CWS_jA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwja69iNiMHqAhXPHM0KHYkQCjEQ6AEwDXoECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=Caroline%20Spencer%2C%20Duchess%20of%20Marlborough%20personality&f=falsepage 82

Honorary titles
Preceded by The Viscount Cobham	Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire 1739–1758	Succeeded by The Earl Temple
Preceded by The Earl of Godolphin	Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire 1739–1758	Vacant Title next held by The Duke of Marlborough
Political offices
Preceded by The Duke of Devonshire	Lord Steward 1749–1755	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 1738–1740	Succeeded by James Dormer
Preceded by Hon. Robert Murray	Colonel of Charles Spencer's Regiment of Foot 1738–1739	Succeeded by Robert Dalzell
Preceded by Humphrey Gore	Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Dragoons 1739–1740	Succeeded by Henry Hawley
Preceded by Earl of Hertford	Captain and Colonel of The Queen's Troop of Horse Guards 1740–1742	Succeeded by The Lord Cadogan
Preceded by The Duke of Cumberland	Colonel of the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards 1742–1744	Succeeded by The Earl of Albemarle
Preceded by The Duke of Montagu	Master-General of the Ordnance 1755–1758	Vacant Title next held by The Viscount Ligonier
Peerage of England
Preceded by Henrietta Godolphin	Duke of Marlborough 1733–1758	Succeeded by George Spencer
Preceded by Robert Spencer	Earl of Sunderland 1729–1758