John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer

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The Earl Spencer
Coronet of a British Earl.svg
Spencer Arms.svg
Born Edward John Spencer
(1924-01-24)24 January 1924
London, England
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Humana Hospital, Wellington, London, England
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 of Wales
Predecessor Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
Successor Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
Spouse(s) Frances Ruth Roche
Raine, Countess of Dartmouth
Parents Albert 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. Queen Elizabeth and other British royals attended wedding ceremony.[5] They had five children:

John and Frances Spencer were separated in April 1969. Frances later married Peter Shand Kydd and Lord Spencer married Raine, Countess of Dartmouth on 14 July 1976, 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]

Titles and styles

Arms

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

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External links

Honorary titles
Preceded by High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
1959		 Succeeded by
Evelyn Fanshawe
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by Earl Spencer
9 June 1975 – 29 March 1992		 Succeeded by
Charles Spencer
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