Resting place Westminster Abbey Name Henrietta 2nd | Tenure 1722–1733 Role Duke of Marlborough | |
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Born Henrietta Churchill
19 July 1681 ( 1681-07-19 ) Title 2nd Duchess of Marlborough Other titles 2nd Marchioness of Blandford
2nd Countess of Marlborough
2nd Lady Churchill of Sandridge Predecessor John Churchill, 1st Duke Successor Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke Died October 24, 1733, Harrow, London, United Kingdom Spouse Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin (m. 1698) Children Mary Osborne, Duchess of Leeds Parents Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough Siblings Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland, Elizabeth Churchill Egerton Similar People John Churchill - 1st Duke, Sarah Churchill - Duchess, Sidney Godolphin - 1st Earl of, Thomas Pelham‑Holles - 1st Duke, Arabella Churchill | ||
Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough (19 July 1681 – 24 October 1733) was the daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, general of the army, and Sarah Jennings, Duchess of Marlborough, close friend and business manager of Queen Anne.
She was born Henrietta Churchill, and became The Hon. Henrietta Churchill when her father was made a Scottish Lord of Parliament in 1682 and Lady Henrietta Churchill in 1689, when her father was created Earl of Marlborough. She married The Hon. Francis Godolphin in 1698, becoming Lady Henrietta Godolphin. She became Viscountess Rialton in 1706 when her father-in-law was created Earl of Godolphin, and Countess of Godolphin in 1712 when her husband succeeded as 2nd Earl of Godolphin.
An act of English parliament in 1706 allowed the 1st Duke's daughters to inherit his English titles. Following his death in 1722, Lady Godolphin became suo jure Duchess of Marlborough.
She bore five children during her marriage to Lord Godolphin:
The Duchess died in 1733, aged 52, in Harrow, Middlesex, and she was buried on 9 November 1733 in Westminster Abbey. Her titles passed to her nephew, the 5th Earl of Sunderland.
Titles and styles
The Duchess did not inherit her father's Imperial princely title as the Empire operated Salic Law, preventing female succession. However, she was a princess of the Holy Roman Empire and a Princess of Mindelheim, and subsequently a Princess of Mellenburg after her father's lands in the empire were exchanged for one another.