John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer
John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer (
December 19 1734–
October 31 1783) was an
English peer and the grandson of
Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland.
Spencer was born in 1734, at his family home,
Althorp. On
December 20 1755, Spencer privately married Margaret Poyntz, 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.
*
Sir 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
April 3 1761, he was created 1st Baron Spencer of Althorp and 1st Viscount Spencer Althorp. On
November 1 1765, he was created 1st Viscount Althorp and 1st Earl Spencer. Spencer died in 1783, aged 48 in
Bath, and was buried at
Great Brington,
Northamptonshire.
