John Spencer (British politician)
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John Spencer (13 May 1708 – 20 June 1746) was a British politician and an ancestor of the Earls Spencer.
[edit] Biography
Born Hon. John Spencer, he was the youngest son of the 3rd Earl of Sunderland and his wife, Anne. In 1732, he succeeded his cousin, William Godolphin, Marquess of Blandford as Member of Parliament (MP) for Woodstock, a seat he held until 1746. He was involved in the foundation of the Foundling Hospital, famously championed by Thomas Coram, William Hogarth and others. Spencer is listed alongside these gentlemen as one of the organisation's founding governors.
In mid-January 1733, Spencer inherited his father's family's estates in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire (including Althorp) and Warwickshire and his grandmother, the Duchess of Marlborough's property, including Wimbledon Park. He was married a month later on 14 February to Georgina Carolina Carteret (the third daughter and coheir of Viscount Carteret, later Earl Granville) and their only child was John, who was later created Earl Spencer in 1765. Spencer died in 1746 and his wife was remarried four years later to the 2nd Earl Cowper. The Althorp estate remains the seat of the earls, but the Wimbledon estate was later sold by the 4th Earl in 1846.
[edit] References
- R.H. Nichols and F A. Wray, The History of the Foundling Hospital (London: Oxford University Press, 1935), p. 351.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Samuel Trotman and Marquess of Blandford |
Member of Parliament for Woodstock 2-seat constituency with Samuel Trotman 1732–1734, James Dawkins 1734–1746 1732–1746 |
Succeeded by James Dawkins and Hon. John Trevor |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by The Duchess of Marlborough |
Ranger of Windsor Great Park 1744–1746 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Cumberland |
