Title Earl Spencer Name John 8th | Role 8th Earl Spencer | |
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Born Edward John Spencer
24 January 1924
London, England ( 1924-01-24 ) Tenure 9 June 1975 (1975-06-09) – 29 March 1992 (1992-03-29) Known for Father of Diana, Princess of Wales and maternal grandfather of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry of Wales Predecessor Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer Successor Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer Died March 29, 1992, Wellington Hospital, London, United Kingdom Children Diana, Princess of Wales, Charles Spencer Spouse Raine Spencer, Countess Spencer (m. 1976), Frances Shand Kydd (m. 1954–1969) Parents Cynthia Spencer, Countess Spencer, Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer Grandchildren Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry Similar People Diana - Princess of Wales, Frances Shand Kydd, Charles Spencer, Albert Spencer - 7th Earl S, Prince William - Duke of C | ||
Edward John "Johnnie" Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, (24 January 1924 – 29 March 1992), styled Viscount Althorp until June 1975, was a British peer and the father of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Contents
- Early life education and military career
- Politics and royal service
- Family life
- Styles of address
- References
Early life, education and military career
Lord Spencer was born Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, the son of Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer, on 24 January 1924. He was educated at Eton, the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, and the Royal Agricultural College. Popularly known to his family and friends as Johnnie Althorp until June 1975, he served as a Captain in the Royal Scots Greys, and Lord Spencer fought in the Second World War from 1944 to 1945, and was Mentioned in Despatches. From 1947 to 1950, he served as Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir Willoughby Norrie, then Governor of South Australia.
Politics and royal service
Spencer held the offices of County Councillor for Northamptonshire (1952), High Sheriff of Northamptonshire (1959) and Justice of the Peace for Norfolk (1970). He served as Equerry to King George VI (1950–52) and to Queen Elizabeth II (1952–54), and was invested as a member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1954. He was known by the courtesy title Viscount Althorp until 1975 when he became the 8th Earl Spencer upon his father's death. He was Member of the House of Lords from 9 June 1975 (the day his father died and he inherited the peerage) until his own death.
Family life
On 1 June 1954 Spencer and Frances Ruth Roche, the younger daughter of the 4th Baron Fermoy, were married in Westminster Abbey by Percy Herbert, Bishop of Norwich. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family attended the wedding ceremony. They had five children:
John and Frances Spencer divorced in 1969. Frances later married Peter Shand Kydd and in 1976, Lord Spencer later married Raine, Countess of Dartmouth, the former wife of the 9th Earl of Dartmouth, and the daughter and only child of the romantic novelist Barbara Cartland and Alexander McCorquodale.
Spencer died of a heart attack on 29 March 1992, aged 68. He was succeeded by his son, Charles, the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales.