| The Right Honourable The Earl Spencer |
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 The Earl Spencer, by Thomas Gainsborough |
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| Born | 19 December 1734 Althorp, Northamptonshire, England |
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| Died | 31 October 1783 (aged 48) Bath, Somerset, England |
| Resting place | Great Brington, Northamptonshire, England |
| Birth name | John Spencer |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Whig |
John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer (19 December 1734 – 31 October 1783) was a British peer and politician.
Spencer was born in 1734, at his family home, Althorp. He was the son of Hon. John Spencer and Georgina Carolina Carteret (1716-1780), and a grandson of the 3rd Earl of Sunderland. On 20 December 1755, Spencer privately married Margaret 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.
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. Spencer died in 1783, aged 48 in Bath, and was buried in the family vault at St Mary's Church, Great Brington, Northamptonshire.
Bibliography
- Spencer, Charles (1999). Althorp: The Story of an English House. London: Viking. ISBN 978-0312208332.
- Battiscombe, Georgina (1984). The Spencers of Althorp. London: Constable. ISBN 978-0094657007.
References
- Milward, Richard (2004). "Spencer, John, first Earl Spencer (1734–1783)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/38713. Retrieved 2009-06-27. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
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| Preceded by Henry Archer Wills Hill |
Member of Parliament for Warwick 1756–1761 With: Henry Archer |
Succeeded by Henry Archer Viscount Dungarvan |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| New creation | Earl Spencer 1765–1783 |
Succeeded by George Spencer |
| New creation | Viscount Spencer 1761–1783 |
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