John Poyntz Spencer

Background

Born on the 27th of October 1835, he was the son of the 4th Earl and his first wife, a daughter of William Stephen Poyntz, of Cowdray Park, Sussex.

Education

He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge.

Career

He was a member of parliament for a few months before he succeeded to the earldom in December 1857. His long career as a Liberal politician dates from his acceptance of the office of lord-lieutenant of Ireland under Gladstone in 1868, a post which he retained until 1874. When the Liberals returned to power in 1880 he was appointed lord president of the council, but in 1882 he entered upon a second term of office as lord-lieutenant of Ireland. The three years during which Earl Spencer now filled this position was a period of exceptional disorder in Ireland, marked by a long series of outrages and conspiracies associated with the "Invincibles, " but the courage and firmness which he then displayed won the admiration of all, and made his adoption of the policy of Home Rule in 1885 an event of considerable interest. In the short Liberal administration of 1886 he was lord-president of the council, and from 1892 to 1895 he was a very capable first lord of the admiralty; it is on record that Gladstone, on retiring in 1904, would have recommended the Queen, if she had consulted him, to summon Lord Spencer to the premiership. From 1902 to 1905 he was the Liberal leader in the House of Lords, and early in 1905, when a change of government was seen to be probable, it was thought in some quarters that he would be the most suitable Liberal prime minister. But his health broke down just at this time, and he took no further part in political life, although he survived until the 13th of August 1910, when he died at Althorp. For forty-five years the earl was a Knight of the Garter; he was lord-lieutenant of Northamptonshire for upwards of thirty years, and he had a reputation as a keen and daring rider to hounds. The fine library, collected at Althorp by the 2nd earl, was sold by him for 250, 000 to Mrs Rylands, the widow of a Manchester merchant, and was by her presented to the city of Manchester.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Red Earl: v. 1, 1835-85: Papers of the Fifth Earl Spencer (The Publications of the Northamptonshire Record Society) (Part 1)

Membership

Spencer was a leading member of the committee that established the National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom, and hosted the committee's meetings at Spencer House, London. The Association's first competitive meetings were held at Wimbledon Common, part of Spencer's manor of Wimbledon.

Connections

Lord Spencer married Charlotte Seymour, daughter of Frederick Charles William Seymour and granddaughter of Lord Hugh Seymour, on 8 July 1858. The marriage was recorded as childless. However, Susan Spencer was born to the couple. The Earl and countess went to Italy for their honeymoon and while there (over a 10 month period) the Countess caught Malaria while pregnant. Susan was born to them with epilepsy and was hidden from the public eye. While in Ireland, Lord Spencer enlisted the help of an Irish male nurse (Cornelius Foley) to care for Susan and over time, they fell in love. The family's rejection of this love affair (with a commoner) led to Susan renouncing her inheritance and led to her changing her name to Eliza King. Eliza and Cornelius got married in London and had 3 sons and 3 daughters (Albert, Ernest, Frank, Edith, Winifred & Florence).

Spouse:

Charlotte Spencer, Countess Spencer

She was a daughter of Frederick Charles William Seymour (a son of Lord Hugh Seymour) and Lady Augusta Hervey (a daughter of the 1st Marquess of Bristol).

Friend:

William Ewart Gladstone