Happy Birthday June 5

Sarah Jennings, later Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, was born on June 5, 1660. Sarah was a confidante of the future Queen Anne who created Marlborough a duke on her accession to the throne. In later life, the Duke of Marlborough was undermined by political intrigue and he fell heavily from royal favor reputedly because his wife’s constant bad temper became too much for even the devoted Queen Anne. When Sarah Jennings died in 1744, she left a fortune of £3 million.

Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough

British furniture maker Thomas Chippendale was born at Otley, West Riding of Yorkshire on June 5, 1718. He was the only child of a joiner John Chippendale, and his first wife Mary (née Drake). Chippendale was famous for his graceful Neoclassical furniture, especially cabinets and chairs and his self-promotional zeal ensured they became a by-word for elegance among England's 18th-century elite. However his lack of business acumen saw him die like a pauper. 

For more June 5 anniversaries, including the founding of the city of Houston, the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin and the opening of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, check out OnThatDay.