Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
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| Albert Spencer | |
 Albert Spencer, Viscount Althorp, in WW1 uniform. Painted by John Singer Sargent, in 1915.
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| Born | May 23, 1892 London, England |
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| Died | June 9, 1975 (aged 83) Northampton, Northamptonshire |
| Title | 7th Earl Spencer |
| Spouse | Cynthia Hamilton |
| Children | Anne Spencer (b.1920) Edward John Spencer (1924-1992) |
| Parents | Charles Robert Spencer Margaret Baring |
Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer (23 May 1892-9 June 1975), known formally as The Hon Albert Spencer until 1910 and from then until 1922 as Viscount Althorp, and less formally as "Jack" Spencer, was a British peer. He was the paternal grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales.
He was born in London, the son of Charles Robert Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer and his wife, the former Margaret Baring, second daughter of Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke.[1] His godparents included King Edward VII.[2]
After his education at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge[3], he served in the First World War as a Captain in the First Life Guards[4], and was active in the local politics of Northamptonshire as a Conservative councillor. He opened his ancestral home, Althorp, to the public and was a well-known art connoisseur, being a trustee of the Wallace Collection and chairman of the Royal School of Needlework.[5] He was a Fellow of both the Society of Antiquaries of London and the Royal Society of Arts, and for eight years in the 1960s he was Chair of the Advisory Council of the Victoria and Albert Museum. He was active in the Territorial Army for 43 years from 1924.[3]
He married Lady Cynthia Hamilton, second daughter of James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn, in 1919 and had two children.
He died at St Matthews Nursing Home, Northampton after a short illness[6], and was succeeded as Earl by his son, John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, the father of Diana, Princess of Wales.
[edit] References
- ^ Williamson, D The Ancestry of Lady Diana Spencer In: Genealogist’s Magazine, 1981; vol. 20 (no. 6) p. 192-199 and vol. 20 (no. 8) p. 281-282
- ^ Mosley, C (ed.) Burke’s Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition (Burke’s Peerage & Gentry (UK) Ltd., Stokesley, North Yorkshire), 2003; vol. 3 p. 3695
- ^ a b Who was Who, 1971-1980 (Adam & Charles Black, London, 1981) p. 746
- ^ Mosley, C (ed.) Burke’s Peerage & Baronetage, 106th edition (Burke’s Peerage, Crans, Switzerland), 1999; vol. 2 p. 2673
- ^ The Times, Thursday, Jun 12, 1975; p. 20 col. F
- ^ The Times, Tuesday, Jun 10, 1975; p. 30 col. B
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Marquess of Exeter |
Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire 1952–1967 |
Succeeded by John Walkelyne Chandos-Pole |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Charles Spencer |
Earl Spencer 1922–1975 |
Succeeded by John Spencer |
