The New York Times/1883/7/6/The Duke of Marlborough

The Right Hon. John Winston Spencer Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, died in London. England, yesterday, of angina pectoris, in the sixty-second year of his age. His death was very sudden and wholly unanticipated by his friends. He was slightly indisposed on Wednesday, but dined with his family at the usual hour, and retired in apparently good health. Yesterday morning he was found dead on the floor of his chamber, his features being calm, as though he had just fallen asleep. He will be succeeded in the dukedom by his eldest son, the Marquis of Blandford.

The Duke of Marlborough was born 2, 1822, and was educated at Eton and Oriel College, Oxford. As Marquis of Blandford he was returned to the House of Commons in April, 1844, before reaching his twenty-second year, as a member in the Conservative interest for the family borough of Woodstock. He represented his borough, except for two years, 1845 and 1846, until he succeeded his father as Duke of Marlborough, July 1, 1857. He became prominent in Parliament through his efforts to increase the usefulness of the Established Church. Among other measures which he fathered and succeeded in passing was an act to amend Sir Robert Peel's acts "for making better provision for the spiritual care of populous parishes." Load Blandford's measure, which was called the "new parishes act," converted existing districts, under certain conditions, into new parishes for ecclesiastical purposes. The Duke was appointed Lord Steward of the Royal Household in July, 1866, and held the office of Lord President of the Council in Disraeli's administration from March, 1867, to December, 1868. When Mr. Disraeli formed his new Government in February, 1874, he offered the Vice-royalty of Ireland to the Duke of Marlborough but this Grace declined this honor at that time, believing that the prolonged absence from England which its acceptance would involve would interfere with his duties toward his county and his extensive property. Two years later, however, when the Duke of Abercorn resigned the Vice-royalty of the Emerald Isle, Marlborough was nominated his successor, and accepted the position. The Duke was Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and as a descendant in the female line of the great Duke of Marlborough he enjoyed a pension of &5,000 a year, the palace of Blenbeim, and the "honor and manor of Woodstock." He was married on July 12, 1843, to Lady Frances Alice Emily, eldest daughter of the late Marquis of Londonberry.