John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), Soldier and statesman
Sitter associated with 85 portraits
Rising to become a confidential agent of James, Duke of York once James became King in 1685, Churchill played a major role in crushing the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion. Just three years later he abandoned his Catholic king in favour of the Protestant William of Orange. His influence at court reached its height with the accession of Queen Anne. Promoted to Commander-in Chief of the allied forces, he achieved huge victories against the French in the War of the Spanish Succession. However, the increasing unpopularity of the war and Marlborough's arrogance contributed to his dismissal by Anne in 1711. He eventually regained favour with the accession of George I in 1714.
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, mid to late 18th century
NPG D31537
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by Sébastien Pinssio, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D16646
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by B. Cole
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D16660
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by John Faber Jr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1735
NPG D33096
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by John Faber Jr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1735
NPG D19727
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by Johann Sebastian Müller, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1744
NPG D16638
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1745
NPG D31529
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1745
NPG D31536
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1745
NPG D13913
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1745
NPG D16630
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1745
NPG D16631
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
published by John Hinton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1749
NPG D16634
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by William Wynne Ryland, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1757
NPG D16635
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by William Wynne Ryland, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1757
NPG D16636
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by R. Clamp, after Silvester Harding, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D31531
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by R. Clamp, after Silvester Harding, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D16642
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by John Goldar, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 22 April 1786
NPG D16632
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by John Goldar, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 22 April 1786
NPG D16633
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough; George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
by William Grainger, published by Alexander Hogg, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, and after Unknown artist
etching, published 31 January 1787
NPG D16641
Description of the Convention-Parliament offering the Crown to the Prince and Princess of Orange
published by John Harris, after Unknown artist
etching, published 1790
NPG D32812
Churchill
Related People
Diana Russell (née Spencer), Duchess of Bedford (granddaughter)
John Churchill, Marquess of Blandford (son)
Elizabeth Egerton (née Churchill), Countess of Bridgewater (daughter)
Arabella Godfrey (née Churchill) (sister)
Sarah Churchill (née Jenyns (Jennings)), Duchess of Marlborough (wife)
Henrietta ('Harriet') Godolphin (née Churchill), Duchess of Marlborough (daughter)
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough (grandson)
Mary Montagu (née Churchill), Duchess of Montagu (daughter)
Anne Spencer (née Churchill), Countess of Sunderland (daughter)
Links
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Holdenby House & Gardens, Holdenby, Northamptonshire
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