. Historical portraits ... the lives of Fletcher .. . as Secretar3 of State (1706). This was the beginning ofthe end, and Annes favour was gradually transferred to AbigailHill, Mrs. Masham, a relative of the Duchess, who had in fact intro-duced her to Court. Anne was evidently frightened of Sarah, whodid not scruple to use strong and, indeed, inexcusable language toher. The last interview between this strange pair of friends tookplace in April 1710, and, early the next year, Sarah was dismissedfrom all her offices. When in i7i2her husband was also dismissed,she followed him to the Conti
. Historical portraits ... the lives of Fletcher .. . as Secretar3 of State (1706). This was the beginning ofthe end, and Annes favour was gradually transferred to AbigailHill, Mrs. Masham, a relative of the Duchess, who had in fact intro-duced her to Court. Anne was evidently frightened of Sarah, whodid not scruple to use strong and, indeed, inexcusable language toher. The last interview between this strange pair of friends tookplace in April 1710, and, early the next year, Sarah was dismissedfrom all her offices. When in i7i2her husband was also dismissed,she followed him to the Continent, and returned with him to Englandon Annes death. After her husbands death in 1722 she was busy completing thehideous structure of Blenheim Palace, and she had a long series ofspirited quarrels with most people around her, including herarchitect, her family and the Kings ministers. She left bj- will alegacy to William Pitt, afterwards Lord Chatham, probably becauseshe believed him to be the re-incarnation of her own spirit of opposi-tion and SARAH CHURCHILL, DUCHESS OK MARLBOROUGHFrom the portrait by Sir GodlVey Kneller in tlie National Portrait Gallery Face p. 2y6 JOHN CHURCHILL FIRST DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH (1650 1722J came of good West-country stock, being the son of Sir WinstonChurchill and Elizabeth Drake. He was educated at St. PaulsSchool, but his masters failed to inspire him with any literary tastes,or even to teach him the art of correct spelling. At the age ofseventeen he entered the army, where, with the assistance of his sisterArabella, then mistress en titre of the Duke of York, he advancedrapidly. Churchills handsome face and attractive manners alsoaided his rise, but he early showed his real military capacity by hisconduct at the sieges of Nimeguen and Maestricht, where hisgallantry earned him the praise of Turenne. In 1678 he crownedan arduous courtship by marrying Sarah Jennings, one of PrincessAnnes attendants. In pursuance of his interests, which
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectportraitpainting
