X-Nico

11 unusual facts about John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough


Abigail Masham, Baroness Masham

1704 was the year that the Queen became weary of the Duchess's frequent absences from the Court, and her political lectures – Sarah was a Whig and Anne was a Tory, and Sarah wanted Anne to appoint more Whig ministers, the majority of which were in favour of the Duke of Marlborough's wars.

The completeness of her ascendancy was seen in 1710 when the Queen compelled Marlborough, much against his will, to give an important command to Colonel John Hill, Abigail's brother.

Battle of Denain

The early victories of Marshal Villars at the Battle of Friedlingen and the Battle of Höchstadt were followed by numerous defeats to the Allied forces, most notably the armies under Prince Eugene of Savoy and the Duke of Marlborough.

Battle of Rain

His daring frontal attack in combination with the deployment of a large part of his army for the flanking movement has similarities with the tactics of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough at the Blenheim battlefield, (situated in the very neighborhood of Rain) or of Frederick the Great at Leuthen.

Bernard Drake

In 1643 the daughter of John Drake of Ash married Sir Winston Churchill, and their son, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, was born at Ash House.

Churchill tank

Alternatively, and fitting in with other British tank names, it may have been named after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, an ancestor of Winston Churchill and the leader of the British Army in the War of the Spanish Succession.

Cockpit-in-Court

Anne and her closest friend, Sarah, Lady Churchill were imprisoned here during the Glorious Revolution; both their husbands, Prince George of Denmark and John, Baron Churchill switched their allegiances from James II to William of Orange.

Earl of Westmorland

John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland, served under the Duke of Marlborough, and was made in 1739 lieutenant-general of the British Armies.

Lillers

The allied British, German and Dutch forces under the command of the Duke of Marlborough established their headquarters at Lillers until forced out by the Marquis de Goesbriand, the head of the French troops.

Marlborough, New York

The town was named after the Duke of Marlborough.

Resettlement of the Jews in England

Marlborough in particular made great use of the services of Sir Solomon de Medina, and indeed was publicly charged with taking an annual subvention from him.


Alexander Rumyantsev

His wife survived him by 40 years, and entertained Saint Petersburg society with the stories of her acquaintance with Louis XIV, Madame de Maintenon, and the Duke of Marlborough.

Ancroft

Boots were also made for the British army - the Duke of Marlborough's troops marched to victory shod in Ancroft boots.

Arnold van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle

He commanded at the siege of Aire in 1710, led Marlborough's second line in 1711, and was general of the Dutch forces in 1712, being defeated at Denain after the withdrawal of Ormonde and the English forces and taken prisoner.

Devonshire Regiment

It then joined the armies of the Duke of Marlborough in Holland in the War of Spanish Succession, and also fought in the Iberian Campaign, being captured by the French at Portalegre in 1704 and part of the British army defeated at the Battle of Almansa.

English general election, 1705

Due to the uncertain loyalty of a group of 'moderate' Tories led by Robert Harley, the parties were roughly balanced in the House of Commons following the election, encouraging the Whigs to demand a greater share in the government led by Marlborough and Godolphin.

Johan Wijnand van Goor

Van Goor's return to the Netherlands was now expected, but the Dutch Grand Pensionary Anthonie Heinsius prevented this in view of the planned Danube campaign of Marlborough.

John Wootton

These included figures such as George II of England, Frederick, Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Marlborough.

Mistress Masham's Repose

The name is an historical in-joke by White; it depends upon knowing that Blenheim was the first of the first duke's great battles, and Malplaquet was his fourth and last.

Quebec Expedition

Queen Anne replaced him with Robert Harley, a political opponent of the Duke of Marlborough, who had also fallen out of favour.

Robert Catlyn

The fifth earl succeeded under the act of parliament as Duke of Marlborough, his mother being second daughter of the great duke.

Solomon de Medina

During the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–14) he accompanied the Duke of Marlborough on his campaigns, advanced him funds, and furnished provisions for the troops.

William Godolphin, Marquess of Blandford

His grandparents were the Lord and Lady Godolphin and the Earl and Countess of Marlborough.