Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (1683–1716)
Lady Anne Churchill (27 February 1683 – 15 April 1716) was the second daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. As her father was created a sovereign prince by the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I, Anne was also a princess of the Holy Roman Empire and later of Mindelheim.
Amongst her descendants are Sir Winston Churchill (from her son Charles), and Diana, Princess of Wales (from her son John).
Marriage and children
She married 2 January 1700, Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland and had five children:
- Robert Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland (24 October 1701 – 27 November 1729).
- Lady Anne Spencer (1702 – 19 February 1769). Married William Bateman, 1st Viscount Bateman.
- Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough (22 November 1706 – 20 October 1758).
- Hon. John Spencer (13 May 1708 – 19 June 1746). Father of John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer.
- Lady Diana Spencer (1710 – 27 September 1735). Married John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.
Her married name became Lady Spencer.
She held the office of Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Anne from 1702 to 1712.
As a result of her marriage, Lady Anne Churchill was styled as Countess of Sunderland on 28 September 1702, but is not to be confused with her mother-in-law Anne Digby, also named Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland.
The title of Duke of Marlborough passed over from her elder sister Henrietta to her son Charles.
She died at the age of 33, and was buried on 24 April 1716 in Brington, Northamptonshire.
Titles and styles
- 1683–89: The Honourable Anne Churchill
- 1689–1700: The Lady Anne Churchill
- 1702–16: The Right Honorable The Countess of Sunderland
- 1704–16: Her Highness Princess of the Holy Roman Empire
- 1705–16: Her Serene Highness Princess Anne of Mindelheim
Anne, despite being a princess as a daughter of a sovereign prince, could not pass her Imperial titles to her children as the Empire operated Salic Law which prevented female succession.
