Person:Consuelo Vanderbilt (1)

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Consuelo Vanderbilt-Balsan (formerly Consuelo Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough; born Consuelo Vanderbilt; 2 March 1877 – 6 December 1964) was a socialite and a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family. Her first marriage to the 9th Duke of Marlborough has become a well-known example of one of the advantageous, but loveless, marriages common during the Gilded Age. The Duke obtained a large dowry by the marriage, and reportedly told her just after the marriage that he married her in order to "save Blenheim Palace", his ancestral home.

Although the teenage Consuelo was opposed to the marriage arranged by her mother, she became a popular and influential Duchess. For much of the marriage, the Marlboroughs lived separately and the marriage was finally annulled. She went on to marry the wealthy French aviator Jacques Balsan and continued her charitable endeavours. Her first marriage produced two sons, John Spencer-Churchill, the 10th duke, and Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Consuelo Vanderbilt, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 MacColl, Gail, and Carol McD. Wallace. To Marry an English Lord. (New York: Workman Publishing, 1989).

   Consuelo, named for her mother Alva’s best friend, Consuelo Yznaga, was brought up in great splendor in the States and abroad. Minnie Stevens [q.v.], also a good friend of Alva, set up the first meeting between the Duke and Consuelo, whose objections to the match were overruled. The Marlboroughs entertained lavishly at Blenheim, where the Prince of Wales was a frequent guest, and played a highly visible part in Edward VII’s coronation.