SPENCER, Robert (1641-1702) | HoP Development Site

Family and Education

b. 1641, 1st s. of Henry Spencer^†, earl of Sunderland, and Dorothy, da. Robert Sydney, 2nd earl of Leicester. This biography is based substantially on J.P. Kenyon, Robert Spencer, earl of Sunderland, 1641-1702. educ. privately (Dr. Thomas Pierce); travelled abroad 1658, 1661-3 (France), 1663-5 (Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy).Kenyon, Sunderland, 6-7. m. 10 June 1665 (with £10,000) Sherborne Castle, Digby mss, vol. ii. ff. 269-70. Anne (d.1715), 2nd da. George Digby, 2nd earl of Bristol, 2s. (1 d.v.p.), 3da. (2 d.v.p.). KG May 1687. d. 28 Sept. 1702; will 14 May 1695, pr. 6 Nov. 1702. TNA, PROB 11/467.

Offices Held

Extra gent. of bedchamber 1673 – 74; gent. of bedchamber 1674 – 79; sec. of state (N) 1679 – 80, (S) 1680 – 81, (N) 1683 – 84, (S) 1684 – 88; PC 1682 – 88, 1697–?d.; ld. pres. 1685 – 88; ld. chamberlain 1697; ld. justice 1697.

Ld. lt. Staffs. 1679 – 81, Warws. 1683 – 86, 1687 – 89; custos rot. Staffs. 1680 – 81, Warws. 1683 – 89.

Amb. extraordinary to Madrid 1671 – 72; to Paris 1672 – 73, 1678; jt. amb. extraordinary to Cologne 1673.

Capt. tp. of horse, Prince Rupert, duke of Cumberland’s regt. 1667. CSP Dom. 1667, pp. 182–3.

Parlimentarian

SPENCER, Robert (1641-1702)

Associated with: Associated with Althorp, Northants; Queen Street, Mdx.; St James's Sq., Westminster.Dasent, St James’ Square, 218, 235.;

Likenesses

oil on canvas by Sir P. Lely, 1660s, Althorp House, Northants.; Reproduced in Kenyon, Sunderland, 6. oil on canvas by C. Maratti, 1664, Althorp House, Northants.; Reproduced in Honour, Interest and Power, eds. R. Paley and P. Seaward, 135. oil on canvas by school of Kneller, Blenheim Palace, Oxon.; Reproduced in Kenyon, Sunderland, 164. miniature by N. Dixon, at Boughton House, Northants. Reproduced in Kenyon, Sunderland, 260.

Author

Eagles, Robin

Seaward, Paul

Volume

Lords 1660-1715

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

Image