George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough
George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough, DL (13 May 1844 – 9 November 1892), styled Earl of Sunderland until 1857 and Marquess of Blandford between 1857 and 1883, was a British peer. Early life. Marlborough was born in England on 13 May 1844. He was the eldest son of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough (1822–1883), who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Lord President of the Council, and Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane (1822–1899). He was the elder brother of Lord Randolph Churchill and the uncle of Winston Churchill . His paternal grandparents were George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough, and Lady Jane Stewart, daughter of Admiral George Stewart, 8th Earl of Galloway. His maternal grandparents were Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry and Frances Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry. Like his father before him, he was educated at Eton College, entering in 1857 and being expelled in 1860. Career. In 1863 Marlborough joined the British Army, purchasing a commission in the rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards. He was initiated into the Freemasonry in January 1871 along with his brother Randolph, in the Churchill Lodge in London  but resigned in 1872. In the following years, he was also initiated into the Ancient Order of Druids. After succeeding to the Dukedom, Marlborough sold the family holdings at Wolvercote and Godstow in 1884. Personal life. Marlborough was twice married. On 8 November 1869, he was first married to Lady Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, at Westminster Palace. She was unkindly described by her mother-in-law as "stupid, pious and dull". Before they divorced on 20 November 1883, shortly after Marlborough inherited the dukedom after the death of his father, they were  the parents of four children: While married to Albertha, he fathered an illegitimate son, initially known as Guy Bertrand and later known as Guy Bertrand Spencer (b. 4 November 1881), by Edith Peers-Williams (d. 1897) who was still married to Heneage Finch, 7th Earl of Aylesford (1849–1885). In an attempt to pressure Lord Aylesford to drop his divorce suit, Lady Aylesford and Marlborough's younger brother, Lord Randolph Churchill, threatened the Princess of Wales that they would subpoena the Prince of Wales (who was touring India at the time) as a witness in the divorce. The Duke was cited  as one of four co-respondents in the sensational divorce trial of Lady Colin Campbell. He married, as his second wife, (Jane) Lilian Warren Price (1854–1909), the widow of Louis Carré Hammersley, a New York real-estate millionaire, and a daughter of retired United States Navy Commodore Cicero Price. The civil marriage took place on 29 June 1888 at New York City Hall, with the ceremony officiated by the Mayor of New York City, Abram S. Hewitt. A religious ceremony followed the same day, in the chancel of Tabernacle Baptist Church and presided over by its minister, Daniel C. Potter . There were no issue from this marriage. The 8th Duke of Marlborough died in 1892, aged 48 at Blenheim Palace, and was succeeded by his only legitimate son, Charles, Marquess of Blandford.