Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Sunderland
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Portrait by Godfrey Kneller
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| First Lord of the Treasury | |
| In office 21 March 1718 – 4 April 1721 |
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| Monarch | George I |
| Preceded by | The Viscount Stanhope |
| Succeeded by | Robert Walpole |
| Lord President of the Council | |
| In office 16 March 1718 – 6 February 1719 |
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| Monarch | George I |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Devonshire |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charles Spencer
23 April 1675 |
| Died | 19 April 1722 (aged 46) London, Greater London, England |
| Resting place | Brington, Northamptonshire, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouses |
Arabella Cavendish
(m. 1695–1698)Anne Churchill
(m. 1700–1716)Judith Tichborne
(m. 1717–1722) |
| Children | 10, including Robert, Charles, John, and Diana |
| Parents | Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland Anne Digby |
| Alma mater | Utrecht University |
| Occupation | Statesman |
Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland (born April 23, 1675 – died April 19, 1722) was an important English politician and nobleman. He was known as Lord Spencer before 1702. He held several high-ranking government jobs. These included Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Privy Seal, Lord President of the Council, and First Lord of the Treasury.
Charles Spencer is a famous ancestor to many well-known people. These include Winston Churchill, a former British Prime Minister. He is also related to Diana, Princess of Wales. Through Princess Diana, he is an ancestor of William, Prince of Wales. Prince William is currently the heir to the British throne.
Contents
Growing Up: Charles Spencer's Early Life
Charles Spencer was the second son of Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland. His mother was Anne Digby. When his older brother Robert passed away in 1688, Charles became the next in line for his family's noble title.
He finished his education at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. In 1695, he began his political career. He became a member of the British House of Commons, representing the area of Tiverton.
Family Life and Important Marriages
Charles Spencer married three times. His first wife was Arabella Cavendish. She passed away in 1698. In 1700, he married Anne Churchill. Anne was the daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. This marriage was very important for Charles. It helped him get involved in politics. Later, the important title of Duke of Marlborough would pass to the Spencer family.
Political Journey: Charles Spencer's Career
In 1702, Charles Spencer inherited his father's title and became the 3rd Earl of Sunderland. He played a role in the union of England and Scotland. In 1705, he was sent to Vienna as a special representative.
Serving Queen Anne and Dismissal
Even though he had some ideas that Queen Anne did not like, he became Secretary of State for the Southern Department in 1706. This happened thanks to the influence of his father-in-law, the Duke of Marlborough.
From 1708 to 1710, he was part of a group of five Whig politicians. This group was called the Junto and they had a lot of power in the government. However, Queen Anne still did not like him. In June 1710, she removed him from his position. Anne offered him money, but he refused it. He said he would not take money if he could not serve his country.
Return to Power Under King George I
After Queen Anne's death, Charles Spencer worked closely with the new king, George I. In 1714, he became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. In 1715, he joined the King's cabinet as Lord Privy Seal.
After visiting King George I, he gained more power. In 1717, he became Secretary of State for the Northern Department. Then, in March 1718, he became First Lord of the Treasury. He also held the job of Lord President of the Council. At this time, he was basically the prime minister of Great Britain.
One of his main interests was a plan to limit the number of members in the House of Lords. This plan was called the Peerage Bill. However, it was not approved, partly because of opposition from Sir Robert Walpole.
Later Roles and Challenges
In 1719, he became the Groom of the Stool to King George I. This was an important position in the royal court. He also received a special honor, becoming a knight of the Order of the Garter. He also supported the Royal Academy of Music, which put on baroque opera shows.
His political career faced a big challenge because of something called the South Sea Bubble. This was a financial crisis in 1720. Public opinion turned against him because he had been involved in the plan. However, with help from Robert Walpole, he was found innocent by the British House of Commons. Even so, he resigned from his government jobs in April 1721. He still kept his influence with King George I until he passed away on April 19, 1722.
A Love for Books
Charles Spencer was known for his love of books. He spent a lot of his free time and money building a huge library at Althorp. In 1703, this library was described as "the finest in Europe."
Naming a Town
The town of Sunderland, Massachusetts, in America, was named after him. This happened in November 1718, shortly after he became Lord President of the Council.
Family and Children
Charles Spencer had children with all three of his wives.
Children with Arabella Cavendish
His first wife was Lady Arabella Cavendish. They had one daughter:
- Lady Frances Spencer (born around 1696 – died July 27, 1742). She married Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle.
Children with Anne Churchill
His second wife was Lady Anne Churchill. She passed away in April 1716. They had six children:
- Hon. Robert Spencer (born December 2, 1700 – died September 12, 1701).
- Robert Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland (born October 24, 1701 – died November 27, 1729).
- Lady Anne Spencer (born 1702 – died February 19, 1769). She married William Bateman, 1st Viscount Bateman.
- Charles Spencer, 5th Earl of Sunderland (born November 22, 1706 – died October 20, 1758). He later became the 3rd Duke of Marlborough.
- Hon. John Spencer (born May 13, 1708 – died June 19, 1746). He was the father of John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer.
- Lady Diana Spencer (born 1710 – died September 27, 1735). She married John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.
Children with Judith Tichborne
In 1717, he married Judith Tichborne. They had three children who sadly passed away when they were very young:
- An unnamed child (born and died 1718).
- Lady Margaret Spencer (born and died 1719).
- Hon. William Spencer (born 1720 – died April 17, 1722).
After Charles Spencer's death, Judith Tichborne married Sir Robert Sutton.
See also
