Robert Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland

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Robert Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland (24 October 1701 – 15 September 1729) was a British peer, the son of the Whig politician, Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland. His mother was Lady Anne Churchill, the daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. Known as Baron Spencer between 1702 and 1722, he succeeded to the Earldom after his father's death in, but died in 1729 with no children. Therefore, his brother, Charles, became 5th Earl of Sunderland, and subsequently 3rd Duke of Marlborough after the death of his aunt, Henrietta Godolphin (née Churchill), 2nd Duchess of Marlborough.

Robert Spencer was the potential heir to the dukedom of Marlborough. Had he survived, the dukedom would have passed through his family, possibly cancelling out many members of the current line, including Sir Winston Churchill.

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[edit] References

  • Henry L. Snyder, ‘Spencer, Charles, third earl of Sunderland (1675–1722)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2006 accessed 8 Sept 2007
Peerage of England
Preceded by
Charles Spencer		 Earl of Sunderland
1722 – 1729		 Succeeded by
Charles Spencer