Samuel Masham, 1st Baron Masham
Encyclopedia
Samuel Masham, 1st Baron Masham (1678/9 – 1758), was a courtier
in the court of Queen Anne
, and the husband of her favourite
, Abigail Masham (née Hill), Baroness Masham.
Masham was born 1678/9, the eighth son of Sir Francis Masham, 3rd Baronet and Mary Scott, in the same house that John Locke
spent his final years. He was introduced to the Royal Household
as Page to Prince George of Denmark, the husband of the future Queen Anne
. In 1701, he was promoted to the position of Equerry
.
He met his future wife, Abigail Hill in about 1704, when she was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber
to Anne, who was now Queen. This was the year that the Queen confided to the Earl of Godolphin
that she did not believe that she and Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
– her closest friend up until now – could ever be true friends again. The Duchess, a Whig
, was frequently absent from the Court, sometimes for long periods, and had become too overbearing for the dull and easily confused Queen. Abigail, a Tory
– helped by her flattery and subservience – quickly began to supplant the Duchess in the Queen’s affections.
The Tory
leader, Robert Harley
, probably advised Masham of the advantages of marrying a royal favourite. However, Masham himself described it as a love match. The couple were married some time in 1707, in the presence of the Queen, who contributed £2000 to Abigail’s dowry
. The duchess, who was not consulted, discovered that the marriage had taken place several months later, and her subsequent argument with the Queen included accusations of lesbianism. This turned the Queen completely against her; but paved the way for Abigail’s rise.
Meanwhile, Masham was enjoying the rewards of Abigail’s position. He was promoted to Brigadier General
in the army
, and in 1710 became MP
for Ilchester
. In 1712, Robert Harley
, now Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, requested that the Queen create twelve new peers
to pass negotiations for the Treaty of Utrecht
, which the Whigs
were firmly against. Masham was one of those suggested to the Queen; but she only consented on the condition that Abigail continued to act as her dresser (a peeress was not expected to carry out the more menial duties of the bedchamber). He became Baron Masham of Otes
.
After Queen Anne’s death in 1714, the new king, George I
, reinstated the Whigs
– and the Marlboroughs – to favour. Abigail retired into private life, but Samuel became King's Remembrancer
in 1716. He died in 1758, far outliving his wife.
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
in the court 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...
, and the husband of her favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
, Abigail Masham (née Hill), Baroness Masham.
Masham was born 1678/9, the eighth son of Sir Francis Masham, 3rd Baronet and Mary Scott, in the same house that John Locke
John Locke
John Locke FRS , widely known as the Father of Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social...
spent his final years. He was introduced to the Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
as Page to Prince George of Denmark, the husband of the future 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...
. In 1701, he was promoted to the position of Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
.
He met his future wife, Abigail Hill in about 1704, when she was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber
Lady of the Bedchamber
This is an incomplete list of those who have served as Lady of the Bedchamber in the British Royal Household...
to Anne, who was now Queen. This was the year that the Queen confided to the Earl of Godolphin
Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin
Sir Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin, KG, PC was a leading English politician of the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
that she did not believe that she and Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill , Duchess of Marlborough rose to be one of the most influential women in British history as a result of her close friendship with Queen Anne of Great Britain.Sarah's friendship and influence with Princess Anne was widely known, and leading public figures...
– her closest friend up until now – could ever be true friends again. The Duchess, a Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
, was frequently absent from the Court, sometimes for long periods, and had become too overbearing for the dull and easily confused Queen. Abigail, a Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
– helped by her flattery and subservience – quickly began to supplant the Duchess in the Queen’s affections.
The Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
leader, Robert Harley
Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer
Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer KG was a British politician and statesman of the late Stuart and early Georgian periods. He began his career as a Whig, before defecting to a new Tory Ministry. Between 1711 and 1714 he served as First Lord of the Treasury, effectively Queen...
, probably advised Masham of the advantages of marrying a royal favourite. However, Masham himself described it as a love match. The couple were married some time in 1707, in the presence of the Queen, who contributed £2000 to Abigail’s dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
. The duchess, who was not consulted, discovered that the marriage had taken place several months later, and her subsequent argument with the Queen included accusations of lesbianism. This turned the Queen completely against her; but paved the way for Abigail’s rise.
Meanwhile, Masham was enjoying the rewards of Abigail’s position. He was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in the army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
, and in 1710 became MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Ilchester
Ilchester (UK Parliament constituency)
Ilchester was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament until 1832...
. In 1712, Robert Harley
Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer
Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer KG was a British politician and statesman of the late Stuart and early Georgian periods. He began his career as a Whig, before defecting to a new Tory Ministry. Between 1711 and 1714 he served as First Lord of the Treasury, effectively Queen...
, now Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, requested that the Queen create twelve new peers
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
to pass negotiations for the Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
, which the Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
were firmly against. Masham was one of those suggested to the Queen; but she only consented on the condition that Abigail continued to act as her dresser (a peeress was not expected to carry out the more menial duties of the bedchamber). He became Baron Masham of Otes
Baron Masham
Baron Masham is a title that has been created three times, once in the Peerage of Great Britain and twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was first created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1712 when the courtier Samuel Masham was made Baron Masham, of Otes. In 1723 he also succeeded as...
.
After Queen Anne’s death in 1714, the new king, George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
, reinstated the Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
– and the Marlboroughs – to favour. Abigail retired into private life, but Samuel became King's Remembrancer
King's Remembrancer
The Queen's Remembrancer is an ancient judicial post in the legal system of England and Wales. Since the Lord Chancellor no longer sits as a judge, the Remembrancer is the oldest judicial position in continual existence...
in 1716. He died in 1758, far outliving his wife.