A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Marlborough, (Sarah, Duchess of)
Married to the great duke of Marlborough in 1681. She was then about twenty-one, and universally esteemed one of the finest women in England in her person, and of great parts and wit; she had much influence over the mind of the princess Anne, in her conduct afterwards, insomuch that she is supposed to have advised the latter to insist on the provision of 50,000 per annum, which did not please king William. In the mean time, some infamous persons plotted the ruin of the duke, and insinuated, that through his wife the councils of the king were betrayed to the friends of James. In the account the duchess of Marlborough gives of her conduct, she says, "Soon after, a dreadful plot broke out, which was said to have been hid somewhere, I don't know where, in a flower-pot, and my lord Marlborough was sent to the Tower." He was, however, soon bailed, and the contrivance laid open, which forced king William to set him at liberty; though, from Dr. Somerviile's account of the reign of Queen Anne, it appears he was neither suspected without cause, nor that William had any real confidence in him. He, however, recommended him to Queen Anne, and during her reign he performed those actions which have rendered his name immortal, and remained in great favour with her till a new female favourite supplanted the duchess; but on his return in 1709, he began to suspect the change that took place; and when he came over the next year, though the queen was still polite towards him, he found her dislike towards the duchess so apparent, that seeing it could be no longer dissembled, on the 19th of January he carried the gold key, the ensign of his wife's dignity, to the queen, and surrendered all her employments. In 1712, he was dismissed from his; and as his duchess had shared his glory, she shared also his disgrace, and attended him in all his journies, particularly in his visit to the principality of Mindelheim, which had been given him by the emperor. Just before the death of queen Anne, they again returned to England, and he came into favour in the reign of George I. They lost their only son young, but the dukedom descended to the eldest of his four daughters, who were all greatly married, Colley Cibber, who was in raptures with her beauty, said, she became a great-grandmother without grey hairs. Swift says, the duke was indebted to her for his greatness and his fall, as for above twenty years she possessed the favour of the most indulgent mistress in the world, and never missed an opportunity of forwarding her interest, bat her temper was the cause of her losing it. Bishop Burnet says, "she was a woman of little knowledge, but of a clear apprehension, and a true judgment; a warm and hearty friend, violent and sudden in her resolutions, and impetuous in her way of speaking. She was thought proud and insolent on her favour, though she used none of the common arts of a court to maintain it, for she did not beset the princess, nor flatter her. She stayed much at home, and looked very carefully after the education of her children."
In 1742, was published, An Account of the Conduct of the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough, from her first coming to Court to the Year 1710." This work, which was meant to vindicate the part she had acted during her connection with queen Anne, is curious and interesting, and of use in elucidating our history. It was written under her direction by Mr. Hooke, to whom she gave five thousand pounds. She had a quarrel with him afterwards, because, as she affirmed, he endeavoured to convert her to popery; yet, according to Swift, she had little opinion of even the general doctrines of Christianity. This work displays much pique and passion, and shews the little events which sometimes influence the fate of nations. Pope characterised her under the name of Atossa, which she discovered and resented, though she afterwards forgave and courted him.
She was rather famous for a rough kind of wit. Lord Somers once paid a visit of ceremony to her husband in his illness. There had been a great coldness between these noblemen for some time; but his lordship brought a cordial with him, which he earnestly recommended to his grace, saying, "He would be hanged, if it was not serviceable to him." The duchess instantly said, "Take it then, my lord duke; it must infallibly be of use to you one way or other." The duke died 1722; she 1744.