Samuel Masham, 1st Baron Masham

Samuel Masham, 1st Baron Masham (1678/9 – 1758), was a courtier in the court of Queen Anne, and the husband of her favourite, Abigail Masham (née Hill), Baroness Masham.

Masham was born 1678/9, the eighth son of Sir Francis Masham, 3rd Baronet and Mary Scott, in the same house that John Locke spent his final years. He was introduced to the Royal Household as Page to Prince George of Denmark, the husband of the future Queen Anne. In 1701, he was promoted to the position of Equerry.

He met his future wife, Abigail Hill, in about 1704, when she was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Anne, who was now Queen. This was the year that the Queen confided to the Earl of Godolphin that she did not believe that she and Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough – her closest friend up until now – could ever be true friends again. The Duchess, a Whig, was frequently absent from the Court, sometimes for long periods, and had become too overbearing for the Queen. Abigail, a Tory – helped by her flattery and subservience – quickly began to supplant the Duchess in the Queen’s affections.

The Tory leader, Robert Harley, probably advised Masham of the advantages of marrying a royal favourite. However, Masham himself described it as a love match. The couple were married some time in 1707, in the presence of the Queen, who contributed £2000 to Abigail’s dowry. The duchess, who was not consulted, discovered that the marriage had taken place several months later, and her subsequent argument with the Queen included accusations of lesbianism. This turned the Queen completely against her; but paved the way for Abigail’s rise.

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