Earl of Marlborough is a title that has been created twice, both times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came on 5 February 1626 in favour of James Ley, 1st Baron Ley, Lord Chief Justice and Lord High Treasurer. He had already been created a 'baronet, of Westbury in the County of Wiltshire, in the Baronetage of England in 1619 and Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, on 31 December 1624, also in the Peerage of England. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He served as Custos Rotulorum of Somerset. In 1628, one year before he succeeded his father in the earldom, he was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration as Baron Ley. He was succeeded by his only son, the third Earl. He was a naval commander and was killed at the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665. He was unmarried and was succeeded by his uncle, the fourth Earl. The titles became extinct on the latter's death in 1679.
The second creation came on 9 April 1689, when John Churchill, 1st Baron Churchill, was created Earl of Marlborough, in the County of Wiltshire, for his role in the Glorious Revolution. He was subsequently created Duke of Marlborough, and the earldom has since descended with the dukedom.
Read more about Earl Of Marlborough: Earls of Marlborough; First Creation (1626), Earls of Marlborough; Second Creation (1689)
Famous quotes containing the words earl of and/or earl:
“For all Men would be Cowards if they durst:
And Honesty’s against all common sense—”
—John Wilmot, 2d Earl Of Rochester (1647–1680)
“Young men are as apt to think themselves wise enough, as drunken men are to think themselves sober enough. They look upon spirit to be a much better thing than experience, which they call coldness. They are but half mistaken; for though spirit without experience is dangerous, experience without spirit is languid and defective.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)