Background
He was the younger son of Sir John Spencer, of Hodnell and Wormleighton, Warwickshire and Althorp, Northamptonshire.
He was the younger son of Sir John Spencer, of Hodnell and Wormleighton, Warwickshire and Althorp, Northamptonshire.
In the parish church for Althorp, Street Mary the Virgin in Great Brington, Sir William bequeathed the church"s east window of stained glass which depicted Saint John the Baptist and the Spencer coat of arms, now in a south window of the chancel, in memory of his father and a plain altar tomb with an Elizabethan tablet commemorating his life and death and that of his lady Susan, the daughter of Sir Richard Knightley. Spencer was appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire for 1531-1532 but died in office and was replaced by David Cecil. Spencer was buried in Brington church, the parish church for Althorp.
Spencer is a direct male-line ancestor of Prime Minister Sir Winston Spencer Churchill and Lady Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales.