He was introduced to the Royal Household as page to Prince George of Denmark, the husband of the future Queen Anne.
Abigail, a Tory – helped by her flattery and subservience – quickly began to supplant the Duchess in the Queen's affections.
The duchess, who was not consulted, learned about the marriage several months later and her subsequent argument with the Queen included accusations of lesbianism.
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).
Samuel Masham has been portrayed by Gordon Whiting in the 1969 BBC television series The First Churchills,[2] and by actor Joe Alwyn in the 2018 film The Favourite.