Add. MS 9271: Political Papers of the 7th Duke of Marlborough, 1840-80

John Winston Spencer Churchill, 7th duke of Marlborough (1822-83), son of the 6th duke, was a Conservative politician. As marquess of Blandford he was M.P. for Woodstock 1844-45, 1847-57. He was Lord Steward of the Household 1866-67, Lord President of the Council in Disraeli's government 1867-68. Disraeli offered him the Viceroyalty of Ireland in 1874, which he declined, but he accepted the post in succession to the duke of Abercorn in 1876, and was Lord Lieutenant (Viceroy) until Lord Beaconsfield's ministry resigned in 1880. He was the father of Lord Randolph Churchill (see Add. 9248). The papers were purchased by the Library in 1994.

Add. MS 9271 consists of political papers, mostly relating to the three offices of state held by the duke. The collection includes:

[1] Early, non-political correspondence and papers 1840-77, including Oxford University matriculation and examination certificates 1840-42; LORD JOHN RUSSELL on value of Church property 1852; offer of Lord Lieutenancy of Oxfordshire by LORD PALMERSTON 1857; PRINCE OF WALES on new club in Pall Mall to be called Marlborough Club 1868; Lord Randolph Churchill's apology to Prince of Wales 1877.

[Including letters from: 6TH DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH (1851); LORD JOHN RUSSELL (1852); 3RD VISCOUNT PALMERSTON (1857); PRINCE OF WALES (4, 1868); SIR FRANCIS KNOLLYS (1877)]

[2] Lord Steward's department: correspondence, accounts, papers 1866-67; Sir John Cowell on Household appointments.

[Including: SIR JOHN C. COWELL (10, 1866-67); EDWARD M. BROWELL (Board of Green Cloth) (8, 1866)]

[3] Lord President of the Council: correspondence 1867-68; including letters from Lord Derby (Prime Minister), Benjamin Disraeli (Prime Minister); Lord Mayo and duke of Richmond on education; Queen Victoria, mostly times of Privy Council meetings.

[Including: 3RD DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS (1868); 15TH EARL OF DERBY (7, 1866-68); BENJAMIN DISRAELI (11, 1867-68); CHARLES T. LONGLEY, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY (2, 1868); 6TH EARL OF MAYO (1867); 6TH DUKE OF RICHMOND (1868); QUEEN VICTORIA (7, 1867-68)]

[4] Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1876-80, correspondence and papers; DUKE OF ABERCORN on arrangements for Marlborough's succession and entry into Dublin; J.T. BALL, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, on Irish legal appointments, legal aspects of land meetings; BENJAMIN DISRAELI (LORD BEACONSFIELD) on offers of Viceroyalty, appointment of Chief Secretary of Ireland to Cabinet, appointments needing Queen's approval, Irish University Bill, agrarian agitation; T.H. BURKE, Under-Secretary, on county constabularies, disturbances and agitation, anti-rent movement; LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL, about whether Marlborough should resign; EDWARD GIBSON, Attorney-General, Irish legal appointments; LORD GRANARD on scheme for Royal University of Ireland; SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, Chief Secretary, on legal and county appointments, University education; JAMES LOWTHER, Chief Secretary 1878-80, on legal and administrative appointments, University and primary education; SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, Chancellor of the Exchequer, on government loans for public works; LORD ORANMORE on crime and unrest; memoranda, reports, on intermediate schools, outrage at Tobertinan (attack on McEvoy), Co. Meath, 1880, printed reports from Resident Magistrates, renewal of Peace Preservation (Ireland) Act 1875 for five years, 1880; J. ELLIS FRENCH, Detective Director, Observations and statistics on agrarian crime, tenant right meetings, attacks on process-servers, protection posts(1879).

[Including: 1ST DUKE OF ABERCORN (7, 1876); JOHN THOMAS BALL (Lord Chancellor of Ireland) (12, 1878-80); 1ST EARL OF BEACONSFIELD (BENJAMIN DISRAELI) (49, 1874-80); CHARLES F. BOURKE (Prisons Department) (7, 1877-78); SIR JOHN B. BURKE (1876); THOMAS HENRY BURKE (Under-Secretary) (23, 1877-80); LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL (1878?); DUKE OF CONNAUGHT (3, 1877-80); MONTAGU CORRY (1ST BARON ROWTON) (Private secretary to Lord Beaconsfield) (5, 1876-80); EDWARD GIBSON (1ST BARON ASHBOURNE) (Attorney-General) (11, 1878-80); 7TH EARL OF GRANARD (7, 1879); 135-147. SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH (Chief Secretary) (13, 1876-80); JAMES LOWTHER (Chief Secretary 1878-80) (32, 1878-80); SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE (Chancellor of the Exchequer) (1880); THE O'CONOR DON (1879); 2ND BARON ORANMORE (3, 1877-78); BARTHOLOMEW WOODLOCK (Catholic University of Ireland) (1879)]

The collection may be consulted by all holders of full Library Reader's Tickets. A full catalogue is available in the Manuscripts Reading Room.

Contact: Peter Meadows (01223-333141; pmm1000@cam.ac.uk).

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