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| The Earl Spencer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward John Spencer 24 January 1924 London, England |
| Died | 29 March 1992 (aged 68) Humana Hospital, Wellington, London, England |
| Title | Earl Spencer; Viscount Althorp |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Roche (1954-1969) Raine, Countess of Darmouth (1976-1992) |
| Parents | Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer Cynthia Hamilton |
Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, MVO (24 January 1924–29 March 1992) was the son of Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer and Lady Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton, the daughter of James Albert Edward Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn, and the father of Diana, Princess of Wales.
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Education and military career
Lord Spencer was educated in Eton College, in the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, and in the Royal Agricultural College. A Captain in the Royal Scots Greys, Lord Spencer fought in the Second World War from 1944 to 1945. From 1947 to 1950, Lord Spencer served as Aide-de-Camp to then-Governor of South Australia, Willoughby Norrie. [1]
Politics and Royal service
Lord Spencer held the offices of County Councillor for Northamptonshire (1952), High Sheriff of Northamptonshire (1959) and Justice of the Peace for Norfolk (1970).[1] He served as Equerry to King George VI (1950-52) and to Queen Elizabeth II (1952-54),[2] and was invested as a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) in 1954.[1]
Marriages
On 1 June 1954, Lord Althorp and the Hon. Frances Ruth Roche, the younger daughter of the 4th Baron Fermoy, were married in Westminster Abbey by Percy Herbert, Bishop of Norwich. They had five children:
- 1955: Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia Spencer (Lady Sarah McCorquodale)
- 1957: Cynthia Jane Spencer (Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes)
- 1960-1960: John Spencer, who died within 10 hours of his birth
- 1961-1997: Diana Frances Spencer (Diana, Princess of Wales)
- 1964: Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
Lord and Lady Althorp were divorced in April 1969. Lord Spencer later won a bitter custody battle for his children. On 14 July 1976, Lord Spencer married Raine, Countess of Dartmouth, the former wife of the 9th Earl of Dartmouth, and the only daughter of the romantic novelist Barbara Cartland and Alexander McCorquodale.
Death
Lord Spencer died at The Wellington Hospital, London, at the age of 68, and was succeeded as Earl by his son, Charles, the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Titles and styles
- 24 January 1924-9 June 1975- Viscount Althorp
- 9 June 1975-29 March 1992 The Right Honourable The Earl Spencer
Ancestry
| Ancestors of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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References
- ^ a b c Staff. "[http://www.thepeerage.com/p10089.htm Person Page 100 earl daniel spencer was his great great grand father 89: Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer]". thePeerage.com. http://www.thepeerage.com/p10089.htm.
- ^ Royal Household of Buckingham Palace. "Diana, Princess of Wales biography". Royal.gov.uk, the official website of the British Monarchy. http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page155.asp. "Earl Spencer was Equerry to George VI from 1950 to 1952, and to The Queen from 1952 to 1954."
External links
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Gyles Isham, Bt |
High Sheriff of Northamptonshire 1959 |
Succeeded by Evelyn Fanshawe |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Albert Spencer |
Earl Spencer 9 June 1975 – 29 March 1992 |
Succeeded by Charles Spencer |
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