John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer
The Earl Spencer | |
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Member of Parliament for Warwick | |
In office 1756–1761 Serving with Henry Archer | |
Preceded by | |
Succeeded by | |
Personal details | |
Born | John Spencer 19 December 1734 Whig |
Spouse |
Georgiana Carteret (mother) |
John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer (19 December 1734 – 31 October 1783) was a
Early life
Spencer was born on 19 December 1734 at Althorp, his family's home in Northamptonshire. He was the only son of the Hon. John Spencer and his wife, the former Georgiana Caroline Carteret. His only sibling was his sister, Diana Spencer, who died at eight years old. After his father's alcohol-related death in 1746, his mother married, secondly, William Clavering-Cowper, 2nd Earl Cowper.[1]
His father was the youngest son of
His mother was the third daughter and heiress of Lord President of the Council
Spencer was the principal beneficiary under the will of his great-grandmother
Career
After going on a
"As I am the representative of the Sunderland family, and as my particular circumstances are such (from the Duchess of Marlborough's will) that I cannot receive any favour from the King except a title, I should hope that if his Majesty thinks me worthy of a peerage he will not confer upon me a less dignity than that of a viscount... I hope your Grace has observed that ever since I sat in Parliament I have never failed in supporting the King and his ministers to the best of my ability."[5]
Newcastle replied that the King had received the application, but that there would be no immediate creations.[5] Therefore, he continued canvassing St Albans but toward the end of February 1761, he nominated Viscount Nuneham in his place, likely after being informed of his impending creation.[5] On 3 April 1761, he was created Baron Spencer of Althorp and Viscount Spencer by King George III.[6]
Spencer went into Opposition with Newcastle in 1762, and when the
Personal life
In 1754, the twenty-year-old Spencer met seventeen-year-old
- Lady Georgiana Spencer (1757–1806), who married William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire.[7]
- George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758–1834), who married Lady Lavinia Bingham, daughter of Charles Bingham, 1st Earl of Lucan.[7]
- Lady Henrietta Frances Spencer (1761–1821), who married Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough.[7]
- Lady Charlotte Spencer (1765–1766), who died in infancy.[7]
- Lady Louisa Spencer (1769–1769), who died in infancy.[7]
The Spencers owned many estates, but preferred to reside at
Spencer died aged 48, in 1783, near Bath. He had suffered from a long illness. He was buried in the family vault at St Mary's Church, Great Brington in Northamptonshire. His widow lived another thirty years before her death on 18 March 1814.[7]
Coat of arms
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References
- ISBN 978-0-674-73657-3.
- ^ a b "Ancestry Chart - John [Spencer], 1st Earl Spence". www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "Sunderland, Earl of (E, 1643)". www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "Granville, Earl (GB, 1715 - 1776)". www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ Burke, John (1833). A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. London: H. Colburn and R. Bentley. p. 466.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Spencer, Earl (GB, 1765)". www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ISBN 9781588368393.
- ^ ISBN 9780307381989.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/39563. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/38713. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ Milward 2004.
- ^ Foreman 2008, p. 5.
Further reading
- ISBN 0-312-20833-2.
- ISBN 0-09-465700-9.