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English court official and noblewoman From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anne Churchill, later Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (27 February 1683 – 15 April 1716),[1][2][3][a] was an English court official and noble. She once held the office of Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Anne.[6][7]
The Countess of Sunderland | |
|---|---|
 The Countess of Sunderland, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, c. 1710 | |
| Born | Lady Anne Churchill 27 February 1683 |
| Died | 15 April 1716 (aged 33) |
| Buried | Brington, Northamptonshire |
| Noble family | Churchill (by birth) Spencer (by marriage) |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Issue |
|
| Father | John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough |
| Mother | Sarah Jenyns |
| Occupation | Lady of the Bedchamber |
Anne Churchill was a daughter of a duke, younger sister of a duke and a mother of another duke, but her highest title was only a countess by marriage.[8]
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Anne Churchill was the third daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, and Sarah Jenyns. She was named after Anne, Queen of Great Britain, then Princess Anne of Denmark, who was Anne Churchill's godmother. Anne Churchill was also goddaughter of Anne Digby, the Countess of Sunderland (her future mother-in-law).[5] As her father was created a sovereign prince by the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I, Anne was also a princess of the Holy Roman Empire and later of the Principality of Mindelheim.[9] Lady Sunderland also looked after Anne and her sister Henrietta when they were little children, when Sarah had to perform her duty at court. Lady Sunderland was also the one who witnessed when Anne had her first tooth.[10]
After the eldest sister Henrietta Churchill got married in 1698, Sarah began arranging the marriage between her beloved daughter Anne and the young widower Charles Spencer. Charles was the son of the Countess of Sunderland, a friend of Sarah. With this idea, Sarah could be credited with the foundation of the Spencer-Churchill family. Although the Countess of Sunderland supported the marriage, Sarah was hesitant over the match. Politically, the marriage of Anne Churchill and Charles Spencer was a good match, as Charles Spencer was a rising Whig star in Parliament. But on personal level, Sarah found him unattractive, as his face had one giant smallpox scar. Her husband also disagreed with the match.[11] As a result, the courtship between Charles Spencer and Anne Churchill dragged on for almost two years.[12] On the other hand, the Duchess of Marlborough thought Charles Spencer did not love her daughter enough. But the Countess of Sunderland told Sarah that the beauty and sweetness of Anne had won her son's heart, and the Earl also gave Sarah a rash promise that Charles Spencer should be ruled by Marlborough in all things political. Finally, Sarah gave way and persuaded her husband to give permission to the marriage.[13]
On 2 January 1700, Anne Churchill married to Charles Spencer. The Princess Anne gave her goddaughter a gift of 5,000 pounds, as she did to Anne Churchill's elder sister Henrietta.[14][12][15] Despite Sarah's misgivings, the marriage of her daughter and Charles Spencer was a happy one: Anne was a wonderful wife, and Charles loved her dearly.[16]
Anne and her husband had six children, two girls and four boys:[8]
On 28 September 1702, Anne's father-in-law, Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland, passed away; Charles and Anne therefore became Earl and Countess of Sunderland.[23] After her older sister Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough, died, the title Duke of Marlborough was inherited by Anne's son, Charles Spencer, 5th Earl of Sunderland.[24][25]
She died at the age of 33 on 15 April 1716, and was buried on 24 April in Brington, Northamptonshire.[26]
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