Albertha Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough


Albertha Frances Anne Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, VA was an English aristocrat.

Early life

She was born the sixth daughter and tenth child of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, and Lady Louisa Russell. As a young girl, Lady Albertha Hamilton was one of eight train bearers at the wedding of The Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein on 5 July 1866 at Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England.

Marriage and issue

On 8 November 1869, Albertha married George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford, eldest son of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough. This was in defiance of the wishes of George's dominating mother, Frances Anne Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, who disliked Albertha and described her as "stupid, pious and dull". The wedding was held at Westminster Palace. They had four children:
On 20 November 1883, shortly after Blandford inherited the dukedom follwing the death of his father, the couple were divorced. Afterwards, though still entitled to be addressed as Albertha, Duchess of Marlborough, she preferred to use the title she had used throughout most of the couple's married life and was known as Albertha, Marchioness of Blandford.

Titles and styles