Henrietta Churchill, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough
Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough (born Churchill , born July 19, 1681 , † October 24, 1733 ) was a British noblewoman .
Life
She was the eldest daughter and heir to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Sarah Jenyns . Since she was elevated to Earl of Marlborough in 1689 , she used the courtesy address "Lady" Henrietta Churchill as his daughter .
On April 23, 1698 she married Francis Godolphin and took his family name "Godolphin". 1706 her father-in-law was raised to the Earl of Godolphin , whereby her husband as his marriage apparently the courtesy title Viscount Rialton and she received the courtesy title Viscountess Rialton . After her husband finally inherited his father in 1712, she carried the courtesy title Countess Godolphin .
After her only brother John died in 1703, her father's titles of nobility were expanded to include a special inheritance regulation through a special parliamentary law in 1706. Accordingly, in the absence of male heirs , his English title should also be inheritable to the daughters of the first duke and their male descendants. Because of this regulation, Henrietta Godolphin inherited her father in 1722 as 2nd Duchess of Marlborough , 2nd Marchioness of Blandford , 2nd Countess of Marlborough and 2nd Baroness Churchill .
In addition to her marriage, she maintained a liaison with the playwright William Congreve , who is now believed to be the biological father of her youngest daughter. Her marriage to Godolphin had (nominally) five children:
- William Godolphin, Marquess of Blandford (1700–1731), MP, ⚭ 1729 Maria Catherina de Jong († 1779), daughter of Peter Haeck de Jong, Mayor of Utrecht ;
- Lord Henry Godolphin (* around 1700);
- Lady Margaret Godolphin (* around 1703);
- Lady Henrietta Godolphin († 1776), ⚭ 1717 Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne ;
- Lady Mary Godolphin (around 1716–1764), ⚭ 1740 Thomas Osborne, 4th Duke of Leeds .
The Duchess, who died at the age of 52, is buried at Westminster Palace . Since her two sons had died childless before her, their titles of nobility went to her nephew, Charles Spencer, 5th Earl of Sunderland , as 3rd Duke of Marlborough.
Web links
- Henrietta Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough on thepeerage.com
- Marlborough, Duke of (E, 1702) at Cracroft's Peerage
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| John Churchill |
Duchess of Marlborough 1722-1733 |
Charles Spencer |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Churchill, Henrietta, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Godolphin, Henrietta, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough; Godolphin, Henrietta, Viscountess Rialton; Godolphin, Henrietta, Countess Godolphin |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British nobles |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 19, 1681 |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 24, 1733 |