John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough


John Albert Edward William Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough, , styled Marquess of Blandford until 1934, was a British military officer and peer.

Early life

He was born in London on 18 September 1897 as the first of two sons born to Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough and his first wife, the former Consuelo Vanderbilt, an American railroad heiress. His younger brother was Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill who joined the Royal Army Service Corps and fought in the First World War. His parents separated in 1906 and divorced in 1921. Later that year his mother married Lt. Col. Jacques Balsan, a wealthy French balloon, aircraft, and hydroplane pilot, and his father married the French American Gladys Deacon.
His paternal grandparents were George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough and his first wife, Lady Albertha Hamilton.
His mother was the eldest child, and only daughter, of William Kissam Vanderbilt, a New York railroad millionaire, and the former Alva Erskine Smith. They divorced in 1895; she married his friend Oliver Belmont and he married the widow Anne Harriman. His maternal uncles were William Kissam Vanderbilt II and Harold Stirling Vanderbilt.
Marlborough was educated at Eton before joining the Life Guards.

Career

Prior to inheriting the dukedom in 1934, he was a lieutenant-colonel in the Life Guards, and served with distinction in France and Belgium during World War I. After the war, he served as Mayor of Woodstock, where Blenheim is located, from 1937 to 1942. His wife served as the first woman mayor of Woodstock. He also served as High Steward of Oxford in 1937. He enlisted during World War II and was a military liaison officer with the United States forces in Britain.
In 1950, the Duke opened the grounds and many rooms of Blenheim Palace to the public to help defray the cost of upkeep. Today, he is known as one of the originators of the "stately homes" business.

Personal life

On 17 February 1920, he was married to the Hon. Alexandra Mary Cadogan at a ceremony at St Margaret's Church in London attended by King George V and Queen Mary. As a wedding gift, his maternal grandfather gave him a house in London. She was a daughter of Henry Cadogan, Viscount Chelsea, the son and heir of George Henry Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan. Together, they had two sons and three daughters:
Six weeks before his death, on 26 January 1972, the Duke married his second wife, Laura Canfield, the widow of the American publishing heir Michael Temple Canfield. Laura Canfield was the second daughter of the Hon. Guy Lawrence Charteris. Laura's older sister, Ann Geraldine Mary Charteris, was married to the novelist Ian Fleming. Laura herself was previously married to and divorced from Walter Long, 2nd Viscount Long and William Ward, 3rd Earl of Dudley.
The Duke died at a hospital in London on 11 March 1972, and was succeeded by his son John Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford. He and his first wife are buried in the churchyard of St Martin's Church, Bladon.

Descendants

Through his eldest daughter, Lady Sarah, he was a grandfather of four: Serena Mary Churchill Russell , Consuelo Sarah Russell, Alexandra Brenda Russell, and Jacqueline Russell.
Through his second daughter, Lady Caroline, he was a grandfather of three: Michael Thomas Waterhouse, Elizabeth Ann Waterhouse , and David Charles Waterhouse.
Through his third daughter Lady Rosemary, he was a grandfather of three: Alexander Pepys Muir , Simon Huntly Muir, and Mary Arabella Muir.
Through his youngest son, Lord Charles, he was a grandfather of three: Rupert John Harold Mark Spencer-Churchill, Dominic Albert Charles Spencer-Churchill, and Alexander David Spencer-Churchill.