John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough

John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650–1722), was an English commander, statesman, diplomat, and courtier. He began his military career as an ensign in the Foot Guards, and served abroad at the English colony of Tangier. During the Franco-Dutch War (1672–1679), he served as part of an English contingent in French service. He continued to climb the ranks of the army and married Sarah Jennings (1660–1744), who was a lady-in-waiting and friend of James’s younger daughter Anne. He held an important command in the suppression of the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion. James II’s religious, constitutional, and military policies, along with his personal behavior, began to alienate Churchill. He became the center of a conspiracy within the high command of the army to defect from James upon the landing of the forces of William of Orange at Torbay (1688). William III and Mary created him Earl of Marlborough in recognition of his role in the Glorious Revolution, but they did not trust him. During the Nine Years’ War (1688–1697), he served a campaign in Flanders and held a brief independent command during the Williamite Wars in Ireland (1689–1692). He was dismissed from his posts and locked in the Tower on suspicions of Jacobitism until exonerated. After the death of Mary, William began to put Marlborough into more important military and diplomatic positions in the lead-up to the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714). With the succession of Anne as queen, Marlborough was raised to ducal status, became the supreme commander of all English forces, and made England’s chief diplomat on the Continent. The member states of the Dutch Republic also elected him Captain-General of Dutch forces. A master coalition commander, he was able to coordinate England’s war effort with his Dutch and Austrian allies to punishing effect against France. While some of his campaigns ended in frustration, his military performance during the war was unmatched by any of his contemporaries. He consistently outmaneuvered his opponents and won every battle he fought, including Blenheim (1704), Ramillies (1706), Oudenaarde (1708), and Malplaquet (1709). He captured several French fortresses, such as Lille (1708) and Bouchain (1710). He negotiated key treaties of aid that helped allies achieve victory in other theaters. His increasing alignment with the Whig Party and Sarah’s estrangement from Anne led to his dismissal from all offices in 1711. He was restored to high office with the Hanoverian Succession in 1714.