Caroline Spencer, Duchess of Marlborough

On 23 August 1762, Lady Caroline was married to George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough at Bedford House in Bloomsbury, London.^[2] George was a son of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough and the former the Hon. Elizabeth Trevor (daughter of Thomas Trevor, 2nd Baron Trevor). Together, they were the parents of:^[3]

• Lady Caroline Spencer (1763–1813), who married Henry Agar-Ellis, 2nd Viscount Clifden and had issue, including George Agar-Ellis, 1st Baron Dover.
• Lady Elizabeth Spencer (1764–1812), who married her cousin John Spencer (a grandson of the 3rd Duke of Marlborough) and had issue.
• George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766–1840).
• Lady Charlotte Spencer (1769–1802), who married the Rev. Edward Nares and had issue.
• Lord Henry John Spencer (1770–1795).
• Lady Anne Spencer (1773–1865), who married Cropley Ashley-Cooper, 6th Earl of Shaftesbury and had issue.
• Lady Amelia Spencer (1774–1829), who married Henry Pytches Boyce.
• Lord Francis Almeric Spencer (1779–1845), created Baron Churchill in 1815.

The Duchess died at Blenheim Palace on 26 November 1811. The Duke died on 29 January 1817.^[3]

A letter survives from Caroline to Ozias Humphrey, which has been approximately dated to 1788. In it, she refers to a portrait drawing of her husband by Thomas Gainsborough. Gainsborough having died in 1788, she asks Humphrey to complete the painted portrait.^[4] Caroline and her husband were also painted together by William Austin. Her own portrait, as a child, had been painted by Jean-Étienne Liotard around 1754. She was also painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds around the time of her marriage,^[5] and later, with her eldest daughter.^[6]

Queen Charlotte is reputed to have called Caroline "the proudest woman in England".^[7] She died on 26 November 1811 and was buried at Blenheim Palace.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caroline Russell, Duchess of Marlborough.

• Caroline Duchess of Marlborough with Lady Caroline Spencer her Daughter at The British Museum
• Lady Caroline Spencer (née Russell), Duchess of Marlborough (1743-1811) at the National Portrait Gallery, London
• Portrait of Caroline Spencer, Fourth Duchess of Marlborough by Joshua Reynolds