George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Marlborough
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The Duke of Marlborough, by George Romney.
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| Lord Privy Seal | |
| In office 1763–1765 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | George Grenville |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Bedford |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Newcastle |
| Lord Chamberlain | |
| In office 1762–1763 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Bute |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Devonshire |
| Succeeded by | The Earl Gower |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 January 1739 |
| Died | 29 January 1817 (aged 78) Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire United Kingdom |
| Nationality |  United Kingdom |
| Spouse | Lady Caroline Russell |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain (1755–1801) United Kingdom (1801–2017) |
| Branch/service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1755–1760 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Coldstream Guards (1755) 20th Regiment of Foot (1756–1760) |
George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (born January 26, 1739 – died January 29, 1817) was an important British nobleman and politician. He was part of the famous Spencer family. Before he became Duke, people called him the Marquess of Blandford. He held important jobs in the government, like Lord Chamberlain from 1762 to 1763 and Lord Privy Seal from 1763 to 1765. He is also the great-great-great grandfather of Sir Winston Churchill, a famous British Prime Minister.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
George Spencer was born on January 26, 1739. From birth, he was known by the special title of Marquess of Blandford. He was the oldest son of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough. His mother was Elizabeth Trevor. George had three siblings: Charles, Diana, and Elizabeth.
Interesting Personal Traits
King George III once mentioned that the Duke had severe red-green colourblindness. This meant he could not tell the difference between red and green colors. This was quite unusual for someone who owned a grand home like Blenheim Palace, which had many colorful decorations.
His Career and Public Service
George Spencer began his military career in 1755. He joined the Coldstream Guards as an Ensign, which is a junior officer rank. The next year, he became a Captain in the 20th Regiment of Foot.
Becoming a Duke and Joining Parliament
In 1758, George inherited the title of Duke. This meant he became the 4th Duke of Marlborough. In 1760, he took his place in the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. In the same year, he became the Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. This was an important local government role.
Roles in the Royal Court
In 1761, he had the honor of carrying the sceptre with the cross at the coronation of King George III. The sceptre is a ceremonial staff. In 1762, he was made Lord Chamberlain. This role involved managing the royal household. He also became a Privy Counsellor, advising the King.
A year later, he stepped down as Lord Chamberlain. He then became the Lord Privy Seal, another high government position. He held this job until 1765.
His Love for Science
The Duke was also interested in science. He was an amateur astronomer, meaning he studied stars and planets as a hobby. He even built his own private observatory at his home, Blenheim Palace. He regularly exchanged letters about science with another astronomer, Hans Count von Brühl.
In 1768, the Duke was made a Knight of the Garter. This is a very special award. In 1786, he was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society. This is a famous group for scientists.
His Family Life
In 1762, the Duke of Marlborough married Lady Caroline Russell. She was the daughter of John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford. They had eight children together:
- Lady Caroline Spencer (1763–1813)
- Lady Elizabeth Spencer (1764–1812)
- George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766–1840)
- Lady Charlotte Spencer (1769–1802)
- Lord Henry John Spencer (1770–1795)
- Lady Anne Spencer (1773–1865)
- Lady Amelia Spencer (1774–1829)
- Lord Francis Almeric Spencer (1779–1845)
Lady Caroline, the Duchess of Marlborough, passed away in November 1811 at Blenheim Palace. She was 68 years old. The Duke of Marlborough died in January 1817 at the age of 78, also at Blenheim Palace, and was buried there.
Images for kids
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The 4th Duke of Marlborough and his family, painted by Reynolds.
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The Coat of Arms of the Duke.
