John Spencer (died 1600)

Sir John Spencer Kt MP
The funeral honours of Sir John Spencer, Kt. (1546–1600). He displays both the Despencer arms (differenced as a cadet branch) adopted after c. 1595 and the blue and white arms granted in 1504
Born	c. 1549
Died	9 January 1600
Occupation	Politician, Sheriff, Knight
Title	Sir
Spouse(s)	Mary Catlyn
Children	Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton
Parent(s)	Sir John Spencer (died 1586) Katherine Kitson

Sir John Spencer (c. 1549 – 9 January 1600) was an English gentleman, landowner, sheriff, knight, and Member of Parliament, of the Spencer family.

Life

He was born the son of Sir John Spencer (died 1586) of Althorp, Northamptonshire, and his wife Katherine Kitson, daughter of Sir Thomas Kitson of Hengrave, Suffolk. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, he then trained in the law at the Middle Temple. He succeeded his father in 1586, inheriting estates at Wormleighton, Warwickshire, and Althorp, Northamptonshire, and was knighted in 1588.

Career

Spencer was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Bedfordshire in 1577 and for Northamptonshire in 1584. He was Sheriff of Northamptonshire for the year 1578–79 and again for 1590–91.

He was elected as one of the members of parliament for Northampton in 1572.

Spencer died on 9 January 1600 and was buried in St Mary the Virgin Church, Great Brington, the parish church for Althorp.

Marriage and issue

Spencer married Mary, the only daughter and heiress of Sir Robert Catlin, who brought him estates in both Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. They had one son, Robert, who became the first Baron Spencer.

References

• "SPENCER, John (c.1549-1600), of Newnham, Warws. and Althorp, Northants". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 2012-11-01.