John Churchill , 1st Duke of Marlborough ( 26 May 1650 â `` 16 June 1722 ) was an important English soldier and statesman . He lived through the rules of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries . John Churchill , 1st Duke of Marlborough , Prince of Mindelheim , KG , PC ( 26 May 1650 â `` 16 June 1722 ) ( O. S ) , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries .