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 Georgiana Carolina Carteret (1716–1780), and a grandson of the 3rd Earl of Sunderland.
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.
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 died in 1783, aged 48 in Bath, and was buried in the family vault at St Mary's Church, Great Brington, Northamptonshire.
Read more about John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer: Bibliography
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