The Lord Masham | |
|---|---|
| King's Remembrancer | |
| In office 1716–1758 | |
| Preceded by | Simon Fanshawe, 5th Viscount Fanshawe |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Masham, 2nd Baron Masham |
| Cofferer of the Household | |
| In office 1711–1714 | |
| Preceded by | Viscount Rialton |
| Succeeded by | Earl of Godolphin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samuel Masham 1678/1679 High Laver, Essex, England |
| Died | 1758 (aged 78–80) |
| Political party | Tory |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) | Sir Francis Masham Mary Scott |
Brigadier-GeneralSamuel Masham, 1st Baron Masham (1678/79 – 1758), was a Britishcourtier in the court ofQueen Anne, and the husband of herfavourite,Abigail, Lady Masham.
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Masham was born 1678/79, the eighth son of Sir Francis Masham, 3rd Baronet, and Mary Scott, in Otes inHigh Laver, the same house whereJohn Locke had spent his final years. He was introduced to theRoyal Household aspage toPrince George of Denmark, the husband of the futureQueen Anne. In 1701, he was promoted to the position ofequerry. He was commissioned a captain in the2nd Regiment of Foot Guards on 10 January 1704, and breveted a colonel of foot on 20 October.[1]
He met his future wife,Abigail Hill, in about 1704, when she was appointedLady of the Bedchamber to Anne, who was now Queen. This was the year that the Queen confided tothe Earl of Godolphin that she did not believe that she andSarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough – her closest friend up until now – could ever be true friends again. The Duchess, aWhig, was frequently absent from the Court, sometimes for long periods, and had become too overbearing for the Queen. Abigail, aTory – 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 £2,000 to Abigail'sdowry. The duchess, who was not consulted, learned about the marriage several months later and her subsequent argument with the Queen included accusations oflesbianism. This turned the Queen completely against her and paved the way for Abigail's rise.
Meanwhile, Masham was enjoying the rewards of Abigail's position. He was promoted tobrigadier general in thearmy, and in 1710 becameMP forIlchester. In 1712, Robert Harley, nowEarl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, requested that the Queen create twelve newpeers to pass negotiations for theTreaty of Utrecht which the Whigs were firmly against. Masham was one of those suggested to the Queen; but she only consented on the condition that Abigail continued to act as her dresser (a peeress was not expected to carry out the more menial duties of the bedchamber). He becameBaron Masham of Otes, one of the twelve new creations known as "Harley's Dozen".
After Queen Anne's death in 1714, the new king,George I, reinstated the Whigs – and the Marlboroughs – to favour. Abigail retired into private life, but Samuel Masham becameKing's Remembrancer in 1716. He died in 1758, long outliving his wife.
Samuel Masham has been portrayed by Gordon Whiting in the 1969 BBC television seriesThe First Churchills,[2] and by actorJoe Alwyn in the 2018 filmThe Favourite.[3]
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forIlchester with Edward Phelips 1710–1711 | Succeeded by Edward Phelips Sir James Bateman |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forWindsor with Richard Topham 1711–1712 | Succeeded by Richard Topham Charles Aldworth |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Cofferer of the Household 1711–1714 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | King's Remembrancer 1716–1758 | Succeeded by |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| New creation | Baron Masham 1712–1758 | Succeeded by |
| Baronetage of England | ||
| Preceded by | Baronet (of High Lever) 1723–1758 | Succeeded by Samuel Masham |