The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-29 00:00:00

DEATH OF EARL SPENCER, K.G.

We are sorry to have to announce the sudden
death of the Earl Spencer, who died on Sunday, a
few minutes after 12, p.m., at Althorp-hall, the
family seat in Northamptonshire. The earl was
up to a few hours before bis death, to all appear-
ance in his usual robust health and on Saturday
was out shooting with a party. of friends partaking
of the hospitalities at the hall.

The dece-asecl Frederick Spencer, Earl Spencer,
Viscount Althorp, County of Northampton, Vis-
count and Baron Spencer, of Althorp, County of
Northampton, was fourth son of George John,
second earl, by his marriage with Lady Lavinia
Bingham, eldest daughter of Charles, first Earl of
Lucan. He was born April 14, 1798, and conse-
quently in his Glst year. The late earl was twice
married—first, Feb. 23, 1830, to Elizabeth Geor-
giana, second daughter of the late Mr. William
Stephen Poyntz, of Cowdray-park, Sussex, by
whom, who died in 1851, the deceased peer has
surviving Visoount Althorp, M.P., and Lady
Sarah ; and he married, secondly, in 1854, Miss
Adelaide Seymour, only daughter of the late Sir
Horace Beauchamp Seymour, K.C.14 ; by his first
marriage with Matilda, daughter of the late Sir
Lawrence Palk, Bart. By the latter marriage the
earl le Ives two children, the last, a son, having
been born at Spencer-house, St. James'e, early in
the past month.

Ttie 1 tte earl was born at the Admiralty,
Whitehall, his father having for many years
presided over tint department of the Govern-
ment. He adopted •the navy as his profession,
entering that service a few months before he at-
tained his 14th year. As midshipman on board the
Malta, 84, he was employed occasionally with the
in-shore squadron off Toulon, and also in co-operat-
ing with the British army on the coast of Spain,
more particularly at the siege of Tarragona, and
the evacuation of the fort of St. Philippe in the Col
de Balaguer. In July, 1818, he was made a lieu-
tenant, and in 1821 he obtained the command of
the Alacrity, 10, and in August obtained his post
rank. In September, 1825, he was appointed to
the command of the Talbot, 28. While in that ship
he served in the Mediterranean under the late Ad-
miral Sir Edward Codrington, and distinguished
himself at the battle of Navarino. During the
period he had the commandof the Talbot he assisted
at the reduction of the Morea Castle, and his firm
though conciliatory performance of his duties gave
the highest satisfaction to his superior in command.
For his services at Navarino, &c., he was in No-
vembe!, 1827, nominated a Companion of the
Order of the Bath, and received the Cross of St.
Louis of France, and was made a Knight of St.
Anne of Russia (2d class), and of the Order of the
Redeemer of Greece. Since he relinquished the
command of the Talbot in the autumn of 1828 his
lordship has not been afloat. His naval commis-
sions bore date as annexed : _

Lieutenant, 14th of July, 1818 ; Commander,
sth of March, 1821 ; Captain, 26th et August,
1822: and Rear• Admiral (reserved), 7th of Oct.,
1852.
The Earl Spencer was for a series of years Equerry
to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent. In
July, 1846, he was appointed Lord Chamberlain
of the Queen's Household, which appointment
he held up to September, 1848, when be was
succeeded by the Marquis of 13readalbane. In
January, 1854, he was appointed Lord Steward of
her Majesty's Household—au office he resigned on
the 28th of last month.
The late peer was created a Knight of the Garter
in 1849, on the death of the late Earl Talbot.,
The deceased Earl succeeded to the family lion-
ours and extensive lauded estates on the demise of
tiis brother, John Charle=, second Earl, the well-
known statesman, in 1845. He is succeeded by
his son, John Pointz, Viscount Althorp, M.P.,
born October 27, 1835. Previous to his accession
to the peerage the late Earl sat in the House of
Commons for Worcestershire (1831). At the gene-
ral election in 1832 to 1835, and from 1837 to
1841, the Hon. Captain Spencer represented Mid-
hurst in Parliament. During his career in the
lower House be invariably voted with the Whig
party, of which political body, like his predecessor
in the peerage, he was a consistent supporter.
The pre3ent Earl was ,returned to the House of
Commons at the last general election for the south-
ern division of the county of Northampton, his
lordship heading the poll by a large majority. A
vacancy consequently occurs in the representation
of the county by this elevation of his lordship to
the House of Lords. The Earl had only very re •
cently returned to Althorp from a lengthened tour
in the United States and Canada.