biography
| name: |
Marlborough, John Churchill, 1st Duke of
|
pronunciation:
[mah(r)lbruh]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1650–1722)
|
| biography:
| English general, born in Ashe, Devon, SW England, UK. He was commissioned in the Guards (1667), and further promoted when in 1678 he married Sarah Jennings, an attendant of Princess Anne. On James II's accession (1685), he was elevated to an English barony and given the rank of general. He took a leading part in quelling Monmouth's rebellion at Sedgemoor, but deserted to the Prince of Orange in 1688, serving the Protestant cause in campaigns in Ireland and Flanders. Under Queen Anne he was appointed supreme commander of the British forces in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–13), and he became captain-general of the Allied armies. His military flair and organizational skills resulted in several great victories - Donauwörth and Blenheim (1704), Ramillies (1706), Oudenaarde and the capture of Lille (1708) - for which he was richly rewarded with Blenheim Palace and a dukedom. Forced by political interests to align himself with the Whig war party (1708), his influence waned, and when his wife fell from royal favour the Tories pressed for his downfall. He was dismissed on charges of embezzling, and left England for continental Europe (1712), returning after George's accession (1714). Though restored to his former offices, his health was impaired, and he died not long afterwards. |
|
|
