John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
Edward John "Johnnie" Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer MVO , (born January 24, 1924 in Paddington , London , † March 29, 1992 in London), was a British peer and father of Diana, Princess of Wales .
Youth, training and military career
He was the son of Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer and apparently carried the courtesy title Viscount Althorp as his marriage since birth . He attended Eton , the Royal Military College at Sandhurst and the Royal Agricultural College . As captain of the Royal Scots Grays , Lord Spencer fought in World War II from 1944 to 1945 and was Mentioned in dispatches . From 1947 to 1950 he served as the aide-de-camp for the Governor of South Australia, Charles Willoughby Norrie .
Politics and Royal Service
Spencer held the offices of County Councilor for Northamptonshire (1952), High Sheriff of Northamptonshire (1959) and Justice of the Peace for Norfolk (1970). He served as Equerry for George VI. (1950–52) and Elisabeth II. (1952–54) and was accepted as a member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1954 .
When his father died in 1975 he inherited his title as 8th Earl Spencer , 8th Viscount Althorp , 8th Viscount Spencer and 8th Baron Spencer of Althorp and thereby became a member of the House of Lords .
family
On June 1, 1954, Spencer married Frances Ruth Roche , the younger daughter of Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy , and the ceremony was performed in Westminster Abbey by Percy Herbert, Bishop of Norwich . Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family attended the wedding ceremony. The couple had five children:
- Lady Sarah Spencer (born March 19, 1955), ⚭ 1980 Neil Edmund McCorquodale;
- Lady Jane Spencer (born February 11, 1957), ⚭ 1978 Robert Fellowes, Baron Fellowes ;
- John Spencer (born January 12, 1960), died ten hours after his birth;
- Lady Diana Spencer (1961–1997), ⚭ 1981–1996 Charles, Prince of Wales ;
- Charles Spencer, 9. Earl Spencer (* 1964), ⚭ (1) 1989–1997 Victoria Lockwood, ⚭ (1) 2001–2007 Caroline Hutton, ⚭ (3) 2011 Karen Villeneuve.
John and Frances Spencer separated in April 1969. Frances later married Peter Shand Kydd; Lord Spencer married on July 14, 1976 Raine, Countess of Dartmouth, the former wife of the 9th Earl of Dartmouth and daughter and only child of the author Barbara Cartland from her marriage to Alexander McCorquodale.
Spencer died of a heart attack on March 29, 1992 at the age of 68.
Web links
- Mr Edward Spencer at Hansard (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer on thepeerage.com
- ↑ The 8th Earl Spencer, 68, Dies; Father of the Princess of Wales . In: The New York Times , March 30, 1992. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
- ^ Diana, Princess of Wales biography . In: 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."
- ^ Princess Diana: The Earl's daughter, born to life of privilege . In: CNN . Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ↑ Queen heads lists guests at wedding . In: The Montreal Gazetta , June 1, 1954. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ↑ Edward John Spencer; Earl Was Princess Diana's Father . In: Los Angeles Times , March 30, 1992. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Spencer |
Earl Spencer 1975-1992 |
Charles Spencer |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Spencer, John, 8th Earl Spencer |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Spencer, Edward John, 8th Earl Spencer; Spencer, John, Viscount Althorp |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British nobleman and politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 24, 1924 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Paddington , London |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 29, 1992 |
| Place of death | London |