Frances Anne Spencer-Churchill, Duchess Of Marlborough

Frances Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, was born on 15 April 1822 in St James's Square, London. She was the eldest daughter of Irish-born Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, and Lady Frances Vane-Tempest. Her godfather at baptism was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. She had three full siblings, including George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry, and two younger sisters. Additionally, she had an older half-brother, Frederick Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry, from her father's first marriage.

On 12 July 1843, she married John Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford, at St. George Street, Mayfair. Upon her marriage, she was styled Marchioness of Blandford. Their principal residence was Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The couple had eleven children:

1. George Charles Spencer-Churchill (13 May 1844 – 9 November 1892), later the 8th Duke of Marlborough.

2. Lord Frederick John Winston Spencer-Churchill (2 February 1846 – 5 August 1850).

3. Lady Cornelia Henrietta Maria Spencer-Churchill (17 September 1847 – 22 January 1927), who married Ivor Bertie Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne.

4. Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill (13 February 1849 – 24 January 1895), who married Jennie Jerome and was the father of Winston Churchill.

5. Lady Rosamund Jane Frances Spencer-Churchill (9 November 1851 – 3 December 1920), who married William Fellowes, 2nd Baron de Ramsey.

6. Lady Fanny Octavia Louise Spencer-Churchill (29 January 1853 – 5 August 1904), who married Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth.

7. Lady Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill (14 November 1854 – 20 June 1923), who married James Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of Roxburghe.

8. Lord Charles Ashley Spencer-Churchill (25 November 1856 – 11 March 1858).

9. Lord Augustus Robert Spencer-Churchill (4 July 1858 – 12 May 1859).

10. Lady Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill (14 May 1860 – 9 February 1906), who married Richard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl Howe.

11. Lady Sarah Isabella Augusta Spencer-Churchill (4 July 1865 – 22 October 1929), a noted war correspondent during the Boer War, who married Lt. Col. Gordon Chesney Wilson.

Her husband succeeded to the Dukedom of Marlborough on 1 July 1857, after which she became the Duchess of Marlborough. She was characterized as a woman of strong personality, known for her leadership and organization, notably in her efforts to rejuvenate Blenheim Palace with social and political events. She was involved in famine relief efforts during the Irish Famine, which earned her the title of Lady of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert.

Throughout her life, she experienced significant personal losses, including the deaths of her eldest son in 1892 and her only surviving son, Lord Randolph Churchill, in 1895. She was widowed in 1883 and died at Blenheim Palace on 16 April 1899, one day after her 77th birthday. She was interred in the family vault beneath Blenheim Chapel. Winston Churchill, her grandson, described her as a woman of notable decision and energy.

In representations in film and television, she was portrayed by Rachel Kempson in the 1974 mini-series "Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill."