John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
English soldier and statesman (1650-1722) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough KG PC (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722) was an important English soldier and statesman who lived in the rules of five monarchs in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Rising from a lowly page at the court of the House of Stuart, he faithfully served James, Duke of York in the 1670s and the early 1680s. That gave him military and political advancement through his brave and clever skill. Churchill helped secure the Duke of York, now King James II, on the throne.
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough | |
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Born | 26 May 1650 Ashe House, Devon |
Died | 16 June 1722 (aged 72) Windsor Lodge |
Allegiance | (1667–1707) (1707–1722) |
Service/branch | British army |
Awards | Order of the Garter |
Signature |
However, just three years later he left the Catholic king for a Protestant Dutchman, William of Orange. For Churchill's help during in the Glorious Revolution, William at his coronation made him Earl of Marlborough (pronounced /'mɔ:l bəɹə/).
Marlborough served during the early years of the Nine Years' War and became famous. However, charges of Jacobitism made him fall from office. For some time, he was imprisoned in the Tower. When Queen Anne came to throne in 1702, however, Marlborough secured his fame and lots of money.
His marriage to the irritable Sarah Jennings, Anne's close friend, helped Marlborough's rise. Marlborough first became the Captain-Generalcy of British forces and then became a duke. Later, he became the richest of Anne's subjects. In the end, he could not completely crush his enemies, but his victories allowed Britain to rise to very great power. Through him, Great Britain became richwer and richer in the 18th century.