Albertha Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough

Albertha Frances Anne Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, VA (29 July 1847 – 7 January 1932), was an English aristocrat.

Biography

She was born the sixth daughter and tenth child of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, and Lady Louisa Russell. As a young girl, Lady Albertha Hamilton was one of eight train bearers at the wedding of Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein on 5 July 1866 at Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England.

On 8 November 1869, Albertha married George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford, eldest son of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, contrast to the wishes of his dominating mother, Frances Anne Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, who disliked Albertha and described her as "stupid,pious and dull".The wedding was held at Westminster Palace. They had four children:

• Lady Frances Louisa Spencer-Churchill (15 September 1870 – 13 November 1954), married 6 June 1893 Sir Robert Gresley, 11th Baronet, by whom she had issue.
• Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough (13 November 1871 – 30 June 1934).
• Lady Lillian Maud Spencer-Churchill (9 July 1873 – 4 January 1951), married 6 October 1898 Colonel Cecil Grenfell, by whom she had issue.
• Lady Norah Beatrice Henriette Spencer-Churchill (1 September 1875 – 28 April 1946), married 1 December 1920 Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt, by whom she had issue.

The couple were divorced on 20 November 1883, shortly after Blandford inherited the dukedom after the death of his father. Though she technically held no rank after her divorce, or could be addressed as a duchess, she preferred to use the title she used throughout most of the couple's married life and was known as Albertha, Marchioness of Blandford.

Titles

• Lady Albertha Hamilton (29 July 1847 – 8 November 1869)
• Marchioness of Blandford (8 November 1869 – 4 July 1883)
• Her Grace The Duchess of Marlborough (4 July 1883 – 20 November 1883)
• Albertha, Duchess of Marlborough (20 November 1883 – 7 January 1932)
  • Preferred title: Albertha, Marchioness of Blandford (20 November 1883 – 7 January 1932)

Ancestry

Family of Albertha Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough

16. Captain The Hon. John Hamilton               8. John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn                       17. Harriet Craggs               4. James Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton                             18. Sir Joseph Copley, 1st Baronet               9. Catherine Copley                       19. Mary Buller               2. James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn                                   20. James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton               10. The Hon. John Douglas                       21. Bridget Heathcote               5. Harriet Douglas                             22. Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of Harewood               11. Lady Frances Lascelles                       23. Anne Chaloner               1. Albertha Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough                                         24. John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford               12. Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock                       25. The Hon. Gertrude Leveson-Gower               6. John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford                             26. Willem van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle               13. Lady Elizabeth Keppel                       27. Lady Anne Lennox               3. Lady Louisa Jane Russell                                   28. Cosmo Gordon, 3rd Duke of Gordon               14. Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon                       29. Lady Catherine Gordon               7. Lady Georgina Gordon                             30. Sir William Maxwell, 3rd Baronet of Monreith, Wigtownshire               15. Jane Maxwell                       31. Magdalen Blair