Albertha Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough

Who was Albertha Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough?

Albertha Frances Anne Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, VA, was an English aristocrat. She was the daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn and Lady Louisa Jane Russell.

She married George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford, eldest son of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, on 8 November 1869 at Westminster Palace. They were divorced on November 20, 1883, shortly after Churchill inherited the dukedom after the death of his father. Though the new duchess was technically Albertha, Duchess of Marlborough after their divorce, she preferred to use the title she used throughout most of the couple's married life and was known as Albertha, Marchioness of Blandford.

They had four children:

Lady Frances Louisa Spencer-Churchill, married 6 June 1893 Sir Robert Gresley, 11th Baronet, by whom she had issue.

Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough.

Lady Lillian Maud Spencer-Churchill, married 6 October 1898 Colonel Cecil Grengell, by whom she had issue.

Lady Norah Beatrice Henriette Spencer-Churchill, married 1 December 1920 Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt, by whom she had issue.