Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton
KG (157025 October 1627) was an
English nobleman,
peer, politician, landowner, and MP from the
Spencer family.
Life
He was born in
Althorp, Northamptonshire, the son of
John Spencer and Mary, daughter of
Sir Robert Catlyn.
Spencer held the office of
Member of Parliament for
Brackley from 1597 to 1598. He was the Commissioner for Musters for Northamptonshire in 1600 and
Sheriff of Northamptonshire for 1601–02. He was invested as a Knight,
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. The most senior order of knighthood in the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system, it is outranked in ...
in 1601.
Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I. She was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20 August 1589 and List of English royal consorts, Queen of Engl ...
and
Prince Henry came to
Althorp on Sunday 25 June 1603 from
Dingley. Spencer welcomed them with a performance ''
The Entertainment at Althorp'', written by
Ben Jonson
Benjamin Jonson ( 11 June 1572 – ) was an English playwright, poet and actor. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence on English poetry and stage comedy. He popularised the comedy of humours; he is best known for the satire, satirical ...
.
[John Nichols, ''Progresses of James the first'', vol. 1 (London, 1828), p. 175.]
Robert Spencer was created 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton (in the Peerage of England) on 21 July 1603. On 5 August 1607 he was nominated with Sir
Ralph Winwood joint representative of England at
The Hague
The Hague ( ) is the capital city of the South Holland province of the Netherlands. With a population of over half a million, it is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. Situated on the west coast facing the North Sea, The Hague is the c ...
in the negotiations for peace between
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
and the
United Netherlands.
Family
On 15 February 1587 he married Margaret Willoughby the daughter of
Sir Francis Willoughby of
Wollaton Hall and Elizabeth Lyttelton. Robert had seven children by Margaret.
Children
# Sir Henry Spencer (1587-1632) married Lady Joan Church, daughter of Sir William Church
# Mary Spencer (christened 24 August 1588 – 14 July 1658) married Richard Anderson
# Elizabeth Spencer (christened 30 November 1589 – 19 November 1618) married
George Fane
# Sir John Spencer (6 December 1590 – 16 August 1610)
#
William Spencer, 2nd Baron Spencer of Wormleighton (christened 4 January 1592 – 19 December 1636) married Lady Penelope Wriothesley
#
Sir Richard Spencer (christened 21 October 1593 – 1 November 1661) married Mary Sandys
#
Sir Edward Spencer (christened 2 March 1594 – 16 February 1655/1656) married Margaret Goldsmith
# Margaret Spencer (14 August 1597 – 6 December 1613)
References
*
Family searchRetrieved 4 October 2010
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer Of Wormleighton, Robert Spencer, 1st Baron
1570 births
1627 deaths
Robert
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, prais ...
1
Knights of the Garter
High sheriffs of Northamptonshire
English MPs 1597–1598
17th-century English nobility
16th-century English nobility
Peers of England created by James I