George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke Of Marlborough

George Charles Spencer-Churchill, the 8th Duke of Marlborough, was born on May 13, 1844, in England. He was the eldest son of John Spencer-Churchill, the 7th Duke of Marlborough, and Lady Frances Vane. His paternal grandparents were George Spencer-Churchill, the 6th Duke of Marlborough, and Lady Jane Stewart, daughter of Admiral George Stewart, 8th Earl of Galloway. His maternal grandparents were Charles Vane, the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, and Frances Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry.

Educated at Eton College starting in 1857, Spencer-Churchill was expelled in 1860. In 1863, he joined the British Army, purchasing a commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards. He was initiated into Freemasonry in January 1871 along with his brother Lord Randolph Churchill, but resigned from the organization in 1872. Subsequently, he was also initiated into the Ancient Order of Druids.

Upon inheriting the dukedom in 1883 following his father's death, he sold the family estates at Wolvercote and Godstow in 1884.

Spencer-Churchill married twice. His first marriage was on November 8, 1869, to Lady Albertha Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, the 1st Duke of Abercorn, at the Palace of Westminster. Lady Albertha was described by her mother-in-law as "stupid, pious and dull." The marriage ended in divorce on November 20, 1883, shortly after he became duke. They had four children: Lady Frances Louisa Spencer-Churchill (1870–1954), who married Sir Robert Gresley, 11th Baronet; Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, who became the 9th Duke of Marlborough (1871–1934); Lady Lillian Maud Spencer-Churchill (1873–1951), who married Colonel Cecil Grenfell; and Lady Norah Beatrice Henriette Spencer-Churchill (1875–1946), who married Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt.

While married to Lady Albertha, Spencer-Churchill fathered an illegitimate son, Guy Bertrand (born November 4, 1881), with Edith Peers Williams, who was at the time married to Heneage Finch, the 7th Earl of Aylesford. Guy Bertrand Spencer later worked in a brewery and served in the Royal Garrison Artillery during World War I. He married Lily Blanche Minnie Saville in 1910 and died in 1950 in Woking, Surrey.

His second marriage took place on June 29, 1888, in New York City, to Lilian "Lily" Warren Price, widow of Louis Carré Hammersley. The marriage ceremony was civil, conducted at New York City Hall and officiated by the mayor, Abram Hewitt. A religious ceremony followed at the Tabernacle Baptist Church. They had no children. Lily Warren Price was a daughter of retired U.S. Navy Commodore Cicero Price.

The 8th Duke of Marlborough died in 1892 at the age of 48 at Blenheim Palace. He was succeeded by his only legitimate son, Charles. At the time of his death, he resided at Blenheim Palace, and he passed away in a hospital at Knaphill, Woking, Surrey, on March 31, 1950.