Biography of Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough 1877-1964

On 20th April 1875 [her father] William Kissam Vanderbilt (age 25) and [her mother] Alva Erskine Smith (age 22) were married at Calvary Church, Manhattan.

On 2nd March 1877 Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough was born to William Kissam Vanderbilt (age 27) and Alva Erskine Smith (age 24) at New York. She was named after her godmother Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester (age 24).

Around 1894 [her future husband] Jacques Balsan (age 25) and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 16) met.

Around 1895 Winthrop Rutherford (age 32) proposed marriage to Consuelo Vanderbilt (age 17). The proposal was not approved of by Consuelo's mother [her mother] Alva Erskine Smith (age 41) who took her daughter away to Europe.

In March 1895 [her father] William Kissam Vanderbilt (age 45) and [her mother] Alva Erskine Smith (age 42) were divorced.

On 6th November 1895 Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 23) and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 18) were married at St Thomas' Church New York. She by marriage Duchess Marlborough. The marriage arranged by Mary "Minnie" Fiske Stevens (age 42) and encouraged by mother Alva Erskine Smith (age 42). The marriage was unhappy; they separated in 1906 and the marriage was annulled on 19th Augiust 1926. He the son of George Charles Spencer-Churchill 8th Duke of Marlborough and Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Duchess of Marlborough (age 48).

The marriage settlement provided for the Duke to receive a $2,500,000 trust that would pay $100,000 per year. Consuelo also received a further $100,000 per year. The combined annual income of $200,000 (£40,000) more than doubled the income the Duke had enjoyed from his estates prior to the marriage. Consuelo and the Duke also acquired several large gifts from her father, William K. Vanderbilt, including a palatial London townhouse and a reported sum of $1,000,000 in cash to mark the Duke's safe return from South Africa.

On 18th September 1897 [her son] John Albert William Spencer-Churchill 10th Duke of Marlborough was born to [her husband] Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 25) and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 20).

On 14th October 1898 [her son] Ivor Charles Spencer-Churchill was born to [her husband] Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 26) and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 21). The Duke's secondd wife Gladys Deacon (age 17) apparently later implied that Ivor's father was Winthrop Rutherford (age 36); source unknown.

In 1900 Paul César Helleu (age 40) buys the yacht Etoile and creates portraits of the Duchess of Marlborough (age 22) at Blenheim Palace.

Between 1900 and 1905. Unknown Photographer. Photograph of Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 22).

Around 1903. Paul César Helleu (age 43). "The Duchess of Marlborough (age 25)".

1905. John Singer Sargent (age 48). Portrait of the Spencer-Churchill family including [her husband] Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 33), Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 27), [her son] John Albert William Spencer-Churchill 10th Duke of Marlborough (age 7) and [her son] Ivor Charles Spencer-Churchill (age 6).

Ivor Charles Spencer-Churchill: On 14th October 1898 he was born to Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough. The Duke's secondd wife Gladys Deacon apparently later implied that Ivor's father was Winthrop Rutherford; source unknown. On 17th September 1956 Ivor Charles Spencer-Churchill died. He was buried at St Martin's Church, Bladon [Map].

Around 1905. Frederick John Jenkins (age 33). Drawing of Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 27), after Heller.

1906. Giovanni Boldini (age 63). Portrait of Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 28) and her son [her son] Ivor Charles Spencer-Churchill (age 7).

Around 1910. Unknown Photographer. Photograph of Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 32).

On 17th February 1920 [her son] John Albert William Spencer-Churchill 10th Duke of Marlborough (age 22) and [her daughter-in-law] Alexandra Mary Cadogan Duchess of Marlborough (age 19) were married at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map]. He the son of [her husband] Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 48) and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 42).

On 22nd July 1920 [her father] William Kissam Vanderbilt (age 70) died.

In 1921 Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 49) and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 43) were divorced.

In 1921 [her former husband] Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 49) and Gladys Marie Deacon Duchess of Marlborough (age 39) were married; she had previoiusly been his mistress. She by marriage Duchess Marlborough. He the son of George Charles Spencer-Churchill 8th Duke of Marlborough and [her former mother-in-law] Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Duchess of Marlborough (age 74).

On 4th July 1921 Jacques Balsan (age 52) and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 44) were married.

On 26th January 1933 [her mother] Alva Erskine Smith (age 80) died.

On 30th June 1934 [her former husband] Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 62) died. His son [her son] John (age 36) succeeded 10th Duke Marlborough, 10th Marquess of Blandford, 10th Earl of Marlborough, 10th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 12th Earl of Sunderland, 14th Baron Spencer Wormleighton. [her daughter-in-law] Alexandra Mary Cadogan Duchess of Marlborough (age 34) by marriage Duchess Marlborough.

Around 1955 Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 77) purchased Cara-Mia, Southampton.

On 17th September 1956 [her son] Ivor Charles Spencer-Churchill (age 57) died. He was buried at St Martin's Church, Bladon [Map].

On 4th November 1956 [her husband] Jacques Balsan (age 88) died at his home 1 Sutton Place, Manhattan.

On 6th December 1964 Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 87) died at Southampton, Long Island, probably at her home Cara-Mia, Southampton. She was buried at St Martin's Church, Bladon [Map] next to the grave of her son [her son] Ivor Charles Spencer-Churchill who had died in 1956.