Portrait of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), three-quarter-length, in armour with a red ermine trimmed robe, holding a baton in his right hand, in a landscape with a battle beyond

John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, was one of the greatest military commanders in history. He served with distinction under his patron the Duke of York, later King James II, however fearing that King James II intended to establish catholicism as the state religion he joined the plan to replace King James II with the Prince of Orange. King William III appointed him Earl of Marlborough and he was subsequently raised to the Dukedom by Queen Anne in 1702 as a reward for his victories over the French at the head of the English and Dutch forces in the war of the Spanish succession.