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John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer

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The Earl Spencer
Earl Spencer
Tenure9 June 1975 (1975-06-09) – 29 March 1992 (1992-03-29)
PredecessorAlbert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
SuccessorCharles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
Known forFather of Diana, Princess of Wales and maternal grandfather of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry of Wales
BornEdward John Spencer
(1924-01-24)24 January 1924
London, England
Died29 March 1992(1992-03-29) (aged 68)
Humana Hospital, Wellington, London, England
Spouse(s)Frances Ruth Roche
Raine, Countess of Dartmouth
ParentsAlbert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
Cynthia Spencer, Countess Spencer

Edward John "Johnnie" Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, MVO (24 January 1924 – 29 March 1992), styled Viscount Althorp until 1975, was a British peer and the father of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Early life, education and military career

Lord Spencer was born Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, the son of Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer, on 24 January 1924.[1] He was educated at Eton, the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, and the Royal Agricultural College. A Captain in the Royal Scots Greys, Lord Spencer fought in the Second World War from 1944 to 1945, and was Mentioned in Despatches. From 1947 to 1950, he served as Aide-de-Camp to then-Governor of South Australia, Willoughby Norrie.[2]

Politics and royal service

Spencer held the offices of County Councillor for Northamptonshire (1952), High Sheriff of Northamptonshire (1959) and Justice of the Peace for Norfolk (1970).[2] He served as Equerry to King George VI (1950–52) and to Queen Elizabeth II (1952–54),[3] and was invested as a member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1954.[2] He was known by the courtesy title Viscount Althorp until 1975 when he became the 8th Earl Spencer upon his father's death.[4]

Family life

On 1 June 1954 Spencer and Frances Ruth Roche, the younger daughter of the 4th Baron Fermoy, were married in Westminster Abbey by Percy Herbert, Bishop of Norwich. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family attended the wedding ceremony.[5] They had five children:

John and Frances Spencer were separated in April 1969. Frances later married Peter Shand Kydd and on 14 July 1976, Lord Spencer married Raine, Countess of Dartmouth, the former wife of the 9th Earl of Dartmouth, and the daughter and only child of the romantic novelist Barbara Cartland and Alexander McCorquodale.

Spencer died of a heart attack on 29 March 1992, aged 68.[6]

Styles of address and coat of arms

Styles of address

  • 1924–1954: Viscount Althorp
  • 1954-1975: Viscount Althorp MVO
  • 1975–1992: The Right Honourable The Earl Spencer MVO

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
Coronet
A Coronet of an Earl
Crest
Out of a Ducal Coronet Or a Griffin's Head Azure gorged with a Bar Gemelle Gules between two Wings expanded of the second
Escutcheon
Quarterly Argent and Gules in the 2nd and 3rd quarters a Fret Or over all on a Bend Sable three Escallops of the first
Supporters
Dexter: A Griffin per fess Ermine and Erminois gorged with a Collar Sable the edges flory-counterflory and chained of the last and on the Collar three Escallops Argent; Sinister: A Wyvern Erect on his tail Ermine similarly collared and chained
Motto
Dieu Defend Le Droit (God defend the right)

Ancestry

Family of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
16. George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
8. Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer
17. Lady Lavinia Bingham
4. Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer
18. Col. Sir Horace Beauchamp Seymour
9. Adelaide Seymour
19. Elizabeth Malet Palk
2. Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
20. Henry Baring
10. Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke
21. Cecilia Anne Windham
5. Hon. Margaret Baring
22. John Crocker Bulteel
11. Louisa Bulteel
23. Lady Elizabeth Grey
1. John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
24. James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn
12. James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn
25. Lady Louisa Russell
6. James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn
26. Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe
13. Lady Maria Curzon-Howe
27. Anne Gore
3. Lady Cynthia Hamilton
28. George Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan
14. Charles Bingham, 4th Earl of Lucan
29. Lady Anne Brudenell
7. Lady Rosalind Bingham
30. Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond
15. Lady Cecilia Gordon-Lennox
31. Lady Caroline Paget

References

  1. ^ "The 8th Earl Spencer, 68, Dies; Father of the Princess of Wales". The New York Times. 30 March 1992. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Person Page 100 earl daniel spencer was his great great grand father 89: Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer". The Peerage.
  3. ^ "Diana, Princess of Wales biography". The official website of the British Monarchy. Earl Spencer was Equerry to George VI from 1950 to 1952, and to The Queen from 1952 to 1954.
  4. ^ "Princess Diana: The Earl's daughter, born to life of privilege". CNN. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Queen heads lists guests at wedding". The Montreal Gazetta. London. 1 June 1954. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Edward John Spencer; Earl Was Princess Diana's Father". Los Angeles Times. London. 30 March 1992. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
Honorary titles
Preceded by High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
1959 		Succeeded by
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by Earl Spencer
9 June 1975 – 29 March 1992 		Succeeded by
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