George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough

George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough (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 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 married twice. On 8 November 1869, he married Lady Albertha Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, at the Palace of Westminster. She was unkindly described by her mother-in-law as "stupid, pious and dull". They divorced on 20 November 1883, shortly after Marlborough inherited the dukedom upon the death of his father, by Edith Peers Williams who was still married to Heneage Finch, 7th Earl of Aylesford. 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.

Guy Bertrand Spencer, whom Marlborough reportedly cared more for than his legitimate children, worked in a brewery. He married, in 1910, Lily Blanche Minnie Saville (1876–1953), who was a coachman's daughter. Spencer served in the Royal Garrison Artillery during World War I. At the end of his life he lived at 2 Glaziers Lane, Normandy, Surrey, England, and died in hospital at Knaphill, Woking, Surrey, on 31 March 1950. Marlborough married his second wife, Lilian "Lily" Warren Price, 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 Hewitt. A religious ceremony followed the same day, in the chancel of Tabernacle Baptist Church and presided over by its minister, Daniel C. Potter. They had no children.

The 8th Duke of Marlborough died in 1892, aged 48 at Blenheim Palace, and was succeeded by his only legitimate son, Charles.

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