# Duke of Marlborough — The History of Henry Esmond character guide

> Duke of Marlborough in The History of Henry Esmond by William Makepeace Thackeray.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lord Marlborough, Marlborough, the Duke of Marlborough, my Lord Duke of Marlborough

**First appearance:** 0027-ix-i-make-the-campaign-of-1704

## Who they are

The age's supreme general and political weathervane, whose genius on the battlefield is matched only by his genius for surviving the fall of kings.

## In the story

### [III: I Take the Queen's Pay in Quin's Regiment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/iii-i-take-the-queen-s-pay-in-quin-s-regiment)

Promoted to Captain-General and Garter after Queen Anne's accession; denounced by the Dowager as a double-faced traitor.

### [V: I Go on the Vigo Bay Expedition, Taste Saltwater and Smell Powder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/v-i-go-on-the-vigo-bay-expedition-taste-saltwater-and-smell-powder)

Great commander; Esmond attends his levees and receives his favor.

### [VIII: Family Talk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/viii-family-talk)

Mentioned as a relative and host to the family after Lord Castlewood's misfortune.

### [XI: The Famous Mr. Joseph Addison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xi-the-famous-mr-joseph-addison)

Discussed as the subject of Addison's poem; praised by Addison for his divine success and leadership at Blenheim.

### [XII: I Get a Company in the Campaign of 1706](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xii-i-get-a-company-in-the-campaign-of-1706)

Commander-in-chief; leads the victory at Ramillies; described as modest and attributing success to Providence.

### [XIV: The Campaign of 1707, 1708](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xiv-the-campaign-of-1707-1708)

Captain-General of the Allied forces; accused of corruption, bribery, and intentionally avoiding battle for personal gain.

### [I: I Come to an End of My Battles and Bruises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/i-i-come-to-an-end-of-my-battles-and-bruises)

Commander-in-Chief; forced to appoint Webb; criticized by Webb for sending him to danger; Esmond reflects on his possible correspondence with St. Germains.

### [Mohun Appears for the Last Time in This History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/v-mohun-appears-for-the-last-time-in-this-history)

Utterly disgraced; his fall is described in detail, including loss of offices and humiliation before General Webb.

### [VI: Poor Beatrix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vi-poor-beatrix)

Mentioned as a Whig and Hanoverian whose party profited from the Duke's death; his men include Mohun, Meredith, and Macartney.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/endnotes)

The Duke of Marlborough is criticized by Henry Esmond as a traitor and soldier who took bribes; he is said to have turned his back on Esmond.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/characters/lord_marlborough
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/characters