Henrietta Churchill, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough
Encyclopedia
Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough (19 July 1681 – 24 October 1733) was the daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
, general of the army, and Sarah Jennings, Duchess of Marlborough, close friend and business manager of Queen Anne
.
She was born Henrietta Churchill, and became The Hon. Henrietta Churchill when her father was made a Scottish Lord of Parliament in 1682 and Lady Henrietta Churchill in 1689, when her father was created Earl of Marlborough
. She married The Hon. Francis Godolphin
in 1698, becoming Lady Henrietta Godolphin. She became Viscountess Rialton in 1706 when her father-in-law was created Earl of Godolphin
, and Countess of Godolphin in 1712 when her husband succeeded as 2nd Earl of Godolphin.
An act of English parliament in 1706 allowed the 1st duke's daughters to inherit his English titles. Following his death in 1722, Lady Godolphin became suo jure
Duchess of Marlborough.
She bore five children during her marriage to Lord Godolphin:
The Duchess died in 1733, aged 52, in Harrow, Middlesex, and she was buried on 9 November 1733 in Westminster Abbey
. Her titles passed to her nephew, the 5th Earl of Sunderland
.
Her Imperial titles of Princess of the Holy Roman Empire did not pass to her children or to her heir, Charles Spencer
(patrilineal ancestor of the current Dukes of Marlborough as well as mixed-line ancestor of the Earls Spencer, blood family of Diana, Princess of Wales
) as the Empire operated Salic Law which prevented female succession.
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
, general of the army, and Sarah Jennings, Duchess of Marlborough, close friend and business manager of Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
.
She was born Henrietta Churchill, and became The Hon. Henrietta Churchill when her father was made a Scottish Lord of Parliament in 1682 and Lady Henrietta Churchill in 1689, when her father was created Earl of Marlborough
Earl of Marlborough
Earl of Marlborough is a title that has been created twice, both times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came on 5 February 1626 in favour of James Ley, 1st Baron Ley, Lord Chief Justice and Lord High Treasurer...
. She married The Hon. Francis Godolphin
Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin
Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, PC was a British politician, styled Viscount Rialton between 1706 and 1712.-Biography:...
in 1698, becoming Lady Henrietta Godolphin. She became Viscountess Rialton in 1706 when her father-in-law was created Earl of Godolphin
Earl of Godolphin
Earl of Godolphin was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1706 for Sidney Godolphin, 1st Baron Godolphin, the Lord High Treasurer. At the same time, he was created Viscount Rialton. In 1684 he had already been created Baron Godolphin, of Rialton, also in the Peerage of England...
, and Countess of Godolphin in 1712 when her husband succeeded as 2nd Earl of Godolphin.
An act of English parliament in 1706 allowed the 1st duke's daughters to inherit his English titles. Following his death in 1722, Lady Godolphin became suo jure
Suo jure
Suo jure is a Latin phrase meaning "in her [or his] own right".It is commonly encountered in the context of titles of nobility, especially in cases where a wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her marriage....
Duchess of Marlborough.
She bore five children during her marriage to Lord Godolphin:
- William Godolphin, Marquess of BlandfordWilliam Godolphin, Marquess of BlandfordWilliam Godolphin, Marquess of Blandford was an English nobleman.He was born the eldest son of The Hon. Francis Godolphin and his wife Lady Henrietta Godolphin, née Churchill...
(c. 1700–1731), married Maria Catherina de Jong, no issue - Lord Henry Godolphin (b. c. 1700)
- Lady Margaret Godolphin (b. c. 1703)
- Lady Henrietta GodolphinHenrietta Pelham-Holles, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-TyneHarriet Pelham-Holles, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne was the wife of the British statesman and Prime Minister Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She was the granddaughter of Sir Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin and the granddaughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of...
(d. 1776), married the 1st Duke of NewcastleThomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-TyneThomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne, KG, PC was a British Whig statesman, whose official life extended throughout the Whig supremacy of the 18th century. He is commonly known as the Duke of Newcastle.A protégé of Sir Robert Walpole, he served...
, no issue - Lady Mary GodolphinMary Osborne, Duchess of LeedsMary Osborne, Duchess of Leeds , daughter of Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough and Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin...
(1723–1764), married the 4th Duke of LeedsThomas Osborne, 4th Duke of LeedsThomas Osborne, 4th Duke of Leeds KG, PC, DL, FRS , styled Earl of Danby from birth until 1729 and subsequently Marquess of Carmarthen until 1731, was a British peer, politician and judge.-Background:...
and had issue. (It is strongly suspected that Lady Mary Godolphin was not the daughter of the 2nd Earl of Godolphin, but rather of the Duchess of Marlborough's lover, the playwright William CongreveWilliam CongreveWilliam Congreve was an English playwright and poet.-Early life:Congreve was born in Bardsey, West Yorkshire, England . His parents were William Congreve and his wife, Mary ; a sister was buried in London in 1672...
.)
The Duchess died in 1733, aged 52, in Harrow, Middlesex, and she was buried on 9 November 1733 in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. Her titles passed to her nephew, the 5th Earl of Sunderland
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough KG, PC , known as The Earl of Sunderland between 1729 and 1733, was a British soldier and politician. He briefly served as Lord Privy Seal in 1755...
.
Titles and styles
- 1681 - 1689: The Honourable Henrietta Churchill
- 1689 - 1722: The Lady Henrietta Churchill
- 1689 - 1698: The Lady Henrietta Godolphin
- 1706 - 1712: The Right Honorable The Viscountess Rialton
- 1712 - 1733: The Right Honorable The Countess of Godolphin
- 1704 - 1733: Her Highness Princess of the Holy Roman Empire
- 1705 - 1733: Her Serene Highness Princess Henrietta of Mindelheim
- 1722 - 1733: Her Grace The Duchess of Marlborough
Her Imperial titles of Princess of the Holy Roman Empire did not pass to her children or to her heir, Charles Spencer
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough KG, PC , known as The Earl of Sunderland between 1729 and 1733, was a British soldier and politician. He briefly served as Lord Privy Seal in 1755...
(patrilineal ancestor of the current Dukes of Marlborough as well as mixed-line ancestor of the Earls Spencer, blood family of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
) as the Empire operated Salic Law which prevented female succession.