9th Duke of Marlborough

His Grace The Duke of Marlborough KG, TD, PC
The Duke of Marlborough in 1900
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries
In office 1917–1918 Serving with Sir Richard Winfrey
Prime Minister	David Lloyd George
Preceded by	Sir Richard Winfrey
Succeeded by	The Viscount Goschen
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
In office 22 July 1903 – 4 December 1905
Prime Minister	Arthur Balfour
Preceded by	The Earl of Onslow
Succeeded by	Winston Churchill
Paymaster-General
In office 1899 – 11 March 1902
Prime Minister	The Marquess of Salisbury
Preceded by	The Earl of Hopetoun
Succeeded by	Sir Savile Crossley, Bt
Member of the House of Lords as Duke of Marlborough
In office 8 November 1892 – 30 June 1934
Preceded by	George Spencer-Churchill
Succeeded by	John Spencer-Churchill
Personal details
Born	Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 13 November 1871 (1871-11-13) Simla, British India
Died	30 June 1934 (1934-07-01) (aged 62)
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Consuelo Vanderbilt (m. 1895; annulled 1921) Gladys Deacon (m. 1921)
Children	John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge
Religion	Roman Catholic prev. Anglican

Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough KG, TD, PC (13 November 1871 – 30 June 1934), styled Earl of Sunderland until 1883 and Marquess of Blandford between 1883 and 1892, was a British soldier and Conservative politician, and a close friend of his first cousin, Winston Churchill. He was often known as "Sunny" Marlborough after his courtesy title of Earl of Sunderland.

Born at Simla, India, Marlborough was the only son of George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough, and Lady Albertha Frances Anne, daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn. He was a nephew of Lord Randolph Churchill and a first cousin of Winston Churchill, with whom he had a close and lifelong friendship. He was 4th cousin, 2 times removed of Diana, Princess of Wales. He was educated at Winchester College and Trinity College, Cambridge.

Marlborough entered the House of Lords on the early death of his father in 1892 and made his maiden speech in August 1895. In 1899, he was appointed Paymaster-General by Lord Salisbury, a post he held until 1902. He was then Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies under Arthur Balfour between 1903 and 1905. He was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council in 1899.