John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer

The Earl Spencer
Born Edward John Spencer
(1924-01-24)24 January 1924
24 Sussex Square, Bayswater, Paddington, London
Died 29 March 1992(1992-03-29) (aged 68)
Wellington Hospital, London
Title Earl Spencer
Tenure 9 June 1975 (1975-06-09) – 29 March 1992 (1992-03-29)
Known for Father of Diana, Princess of Wales and maternal grandfather of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Predecessor Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
Successor Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
Spouse(s)
Frances Roche
(m. 1954; div. 1969)

Issue Lady Sarah McCorquodale
Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes
John Spencer
Diana, Princess of Wales
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
Parents Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
Lady Cynthia Hamilton

Edward John "Johnnie" Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, MVO (24 January 1924 – 29 March 1992), styled Viscount Althorp until June 1975, was a British peer and nobleman. He was the father of Diana, Princess of Wales. This makes him the maternal grandfather of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, respectively second and sixth in the line of succession to the British throne.

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. Popularly known to his family and friends as Johnnie Althorp, he served as a Captain in the Royal Scots Greys from 1944 to 1945, and was Mentioned in Despatches. From 1947 to 1950, he served as Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir Willoughby Norrie, then Governor of South Australia.[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] He was Member of the House of Lords from 9 June 1975 (the day his father died and he inherited the peerage) until his own death.

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 divorced in 1969. Frances later married Peter Shand Kydd and in 1976, Lord Spencer later 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.

In 1978, aged 54, Spencer suffered a severe stroke,[1] from which, at one stage, he was not expected to recover, and which kept him in hospital for eight months. He suffered permanent damage.

Spencer died of a heart attack on 29 March 1992, aged 68.[6] He was succeeded by his son Charles.

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

Ancestry

References

  1. 1 2 "The 8th Earl Spencer, 68, Dies; Father of the Princess of Wales". The New York Times. 30 March 1992. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "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. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. 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 Gazette. London. 1 June 1954. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Edward John Spencer; Earl Was Princess Diana's Father". Times Wire Services. London. 30 March 1992. Retrieved 29 May 2013 – via Los Angeles Times.
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Sir Gyles Isham, Bt		 High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
1959		 Succeeded by
Evelyn Fanshawe
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by
Albert Spencer		 Earl Spencer
9 June 1975 – 29 March 1992		 Succeeded by
Charles Spencer
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