History: The repair books record that this watch was overhauled on the 19 January 1833 at the request of the Marquess of Blanfort(sic), delivered by the British Embassy. It returned again for repair on 11 April 1836, delivered by the Baron Rothschild. On 3 March 1847 a Monsieur Fredk. Faber, attached to the Dutch Legation brought the watch to the workshops for cleaning, and a remark in the margin notes that it belonged to the Duke of Marlborough (the Marquis of Bland ford had succeeded to the title of Duke of Marlborough on the death of his father on 5 March 1840). Provenance: Formerly in the Sir David Salomons Collection, No. 21. Sold at Christie's, London, as lot 46, catalogue part Ill on 2 November 1965. Literature: Illustrated in G. Daniels, The Art of Breguet, p.235, figs. 262 a-d. Note: Although this watch is not fitted with repeating and a moon phase dial, it nevertheless incorporates the same refinements in the movement as the previous lot, with the addition of double barrels, a feature more usually applied to watches destined for scientific use. (see note for lot 22). For a discussion and detailed drawing of the escapement used in this watch and the previous lot see George Daniels, The Art of Breguet, p. 304 - 309, figs. 389 a-c and 390.
GEORGE SPENCER CHURCHILL 6th Duke of Marlborough, Marquis of Blandford, Earl of Sunderland, Earl of Marlborough, Baron Spencer, Baron Churchill. (1793 - 1857)
George Spencer Churchill, statesman and member of the aristocracy was born on 27 December 1793, the eldest son of George, 5th Duke of Marlborough and Susan, daughter of the Earl of Galloway. Descended from John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, the celebrated soldier,who fought under James Il, Willaim of Orange and Queen Anne. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, and first entered public life as the Marquis of Blandford, becoming M.P. for Woodstock, which he represented until 1832, and again from 1838 -1842, when on the death of his father, he moved to the House of Lords. He was married three times : first in 1819 to his cousin, Lady Jane Stewart, daughter of the Earl of Galloway, who died in 1844. Two years later he married the Hon. Charlotte Flower, daughter of Viscount Ashbrook, and after her death in 1850 he was married to Jane Stewart (coincidentally the sane name as his first wife) daughter of the Hon. Edward Stewart. His eldest son by his first marriage, John Winston, succeeded him to the title. His ancestor,John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, 1650-1722, was the most celebrated Captain of his age, in some respects the first General in the military annals of England. As a boy he was a page to the Duke of York, and later obtained a commission as ensign in the Guards. He fought for Louis XIV at Maestricht, where he distinguished himself. He won favour with the Duke of fought in Flanders and Scotland and in 1682 was created Lord Churchill of Eyemouth, and later given the command of the 1st Regiment of Dragoons. When the Duke of York ascended the throne as James II, Churchill was raised to the peerage and became ambassador to Paris. In 1688 however, he turned on his royal benefactor in favour of William, Prince of Orange, who as King of England elected Churchill to the Privy Council and made him Earl of Marlborough. Later he fell out of favour with William and was confined to the Tower of London. On the accession of Queen Anne to the throne, he was appointed Captain General of her forces and in 1702 given the title of Duke of Marlborough and Marquis of Bland ford. Following the victory of Blenheim in 1704, the royal manor of Woodstock was given to him and the Palace of Blenheim built at the nations expense.