George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough

George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (* March 6, 1766, † March 5, 1840 ) was a British nobleman and politician.

Life and work

George Spencer-Churchill was the name of George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough born in 1766 as the eldest son of George Spencer. Until the death of his father led Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford the courtesy title. The surname Spencer-Churchill took George Spencer in 1817, in reference to his ancestor John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, to when he rank and title of the Duke of Marlborough inherited after the death of his father.

From 1776 to 1783 he attended the boarding school Eton College, and from 1784 to 1786 from Christ Church College, Oxford University, which he left as a Master of Arts.

From 1790 to 1796 he sat for the Whigs as MP for the county of Oxfordshire, and from 1802 to 1806 as a Member of the Tories for the county Tregony in the British Parliament. From 1804 to 1806 he also served as Lord of the Treasury.

Due to its inept fiscal policy as a private citizen of the Duke numerous real estate (land, country houses) as well as his extensive collection of antiques was forced to sell in order to pay off his enormous debts. This went so far that large parts of the forests had to be cut down to Blenheim Palace, to be sold as firewood and so contribute financial resources. At the time of his death the Duke lived on a yearly appanage, which had suspended the first Duke royalty.

Family

Spencer-Churchill married on September 15, 1791 Lady Susan Stewart, a daughter of John Stewart, 7th Earl of Galloway. The marriage produced four children:

Duke of Marlborough (title)
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