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John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer

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Full Name
  
John Spencer

Role
  
British Politician

Name
  
John 1st


Political party
  
Whig

Nationality
  
British

Parents
  
John Spencer

John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer

Born
  
19 December 1734Althorp, Northamptonshire, England (
1734-12-19
)

Resting place
  
Died
  
October 31, 1783, Bath, United Kingdom

Spouse
  
Georgiana Spencer, Countess Spencer (m. 1755)

Children
  
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire

Grandchildren
  
Lady Caroline Lamb, Eliza Courtney

Similar People
  
George Spencer - 2nd Earl, Georgiana Cavendish - Duchess, Georgiana Spencer - Countess, William Cavendish - 5th Duke, William Cavendish - 6th Duke

John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer (19 December 1734 – 31 October 1783) was a British peer and politician.

Contents

Early life

Spencer was born in 1734, at his family home, Althorp. He was the son of Hon. John Spencer and Georgiana Caroline Carteret (1716–1780), and a grandson of the 3rd Earl of Sunderland.

Political career

Spencer was MP (Whig) for Warwick from 1756 to 1761. He was also High Steward of St Albans in 1772 and Mayor of St Albans in 1779. On 3 April 1761, he was created Baron Spencer of Althorp and Viscount Spencer by George III, and on 1 November 1765, he was created Viscount Althorp and Earl Spencer.

Family

On 20 December 1755, Spencer privately married Georgiana Poyntz (1737–1814), daughter of Stephen Poyntz, in his mother's dressing room at Althorp. They had five children:

  • Lady Georgiana Spencer (1757–1806), married William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, and had issue.
  • George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758–1834)
  • Lady Henrietta Frances Spencer (1761–1821), married Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough, and had issue.
  • Lady Charlotte Spencer (1765–1766), died in infancy.
  • Lady Louisa Spencer (b. & d. 1769), died in infancy.
  • He was the great-great-great-great-grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales.

    Spencer died in 1783, aged 48 in Bath, and was buried in the family vault at St Mary's Church, Great Brington, Northamptonshire.

    Styles of address

  • 1734-1756: Mr John Spencer
  • 1756-1761: Mr John Spencer MP
  • 1761: Mr John Spencer
  • 1761-1765: The Right Honourable The Viscount Spencer
  • 1765-1783: The Right Honourable The Earl Spencer
  • References

    John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer Wikipedia