Churchill, John, Marquis Blandford

John Churchill was born on February 13, 1686 . His father was the English commander John Churchill , and his mother was Sarah Jennings , the youngest daughter of politician Richard Jennings . While John Churchill was a Protestant, his wife was born into a Catholic family. In February 1686, John Churchill was baptized; his godfathers were Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tirconell (husband of Francis Jennings , sisters of Sarah) and Sidney Godolfin, 1st Earl of Godolfin . Virtually nothing is known about his childhood, when his parents did not occupy a prominent position at the royal court.

On December 14, 1702, Queen of Great Britain Anna , a close friend of the mother of the young John Churchill, created the title of Duke of Marlborough for his father. Earlier, King William III and Queen Mary II elevated John Churchill to the rank of Earl of Marlborough. Thus, his children, including the younger Churchill, began to wear the titles of Lord and Lady. The Countess Marlborough gave birth to the second son of Charles Churchill (1690–1692), who soon passed away. In 1702 , when his father received the title of Duke of Marlborough, he was awarded the title of Marquis of Blandford.

In 1696, 10-year-old John Churchill was sent to study at Eton College , where he studied four years before 1700 . The Marquis of Blandford himself wanted to start a military career, like his father, but his mother was worried about possible risks and wanted to transfer the ducal title to the male line. In 1700, the 14-year-old Churchill was sent to King's College, Cambridge . Blandford was especially close to his godfather, Earl Sidney Godolfin, with whom he often traveled from Cambridge to Newmarket.

In early 1703, the 17-year-old Marquis of Blandford contracted smallpox. The Duchess of Marlborough was at the bedside of her sick son, and Queen Anne sent her own personal doctors to him. On Saturday morning, February 20 , John Churchill passed away at King's College. His father grieved greatly for his son. The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough left Cambridge and settled in their country house in St. Albans to mourn the death of his son and heir. Edward Gregg, Queen Anne's biographer, claimed that the Marquis Blandford was a beloved child in the family.

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