| Authorised form of name | Spencer; Robert (1640 - 1702); 2nd Earl of Sunderland; politician |
| Dates | 1640 - 1702 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Paris, France, Europe |
| Date of birth | 5 September 1641 |
| Place of death | Althorp House, Northamptonshire, England, Europe |
| Date of death | 28 September 1702 |
| DatesAndPlaces | Burial:
Brington, Northamptonshire, England, Europe |
| Occupation | politician; diplomat |
| Activity | Education:
Pupil of Thomas Pierce; Christ Church, Oxford (1661)
Career:
Travelled abroad (1658-1665); Commissioned in Prince Rupert's Regiment of Horse (1667); Ambassador Extraordinary to Madrid (1671-1672), Paris (1672); one of the Plenipotentiaries at Cologne (1673); Privy Councillor (1674-1681, 1682-); Gentleman of the Bedchamber (1674); Ambassador Extraordinary to The Hague (1678-1679); Secretary of State (North) (1679); intrigued against the Duke of York; Lord President of the Council (1685); in the pay of the French, he also revealed state secrets to the prince of Orange through his wife and her lover, his uncle Henry Sidney; fled to Rotterdam, disguised as a woman (1688); briefly imprisoned by the Dutch (1689); became a Roman Catholic (1688) but recanted (16910; returned to England (1691); Lord Chamberlain (1697)
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| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 15/05/1662 |
| Relationships | Parents: Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland, and Dorothy Sidney; succeeded his father (1643)
Married: Anne Digby
Brother-in-law: George Savile, 1st Viscount Halifax (FRS 1675)
Children: approx. seven overall, incl. Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland (FRS 1698); Anne Douglas; Elizabeth MacCarthy |
| OtherInfo | Spencer's political career is a long and varied one, which developed under multiple monarchs. For example, he played a vital role during the Exclusion Crisis, when he was involved in negotiations with the opposition, leading to the formation of a new privy council with them. Furthermore, he was involved in developing anti-French foreign policy in the late 1670s. Upon expressing opposition to the Duke of York's succession and subsequent rule, he was politically extremely unpopular and fled to the Netherlands. He was allowed to return in 1691. |
| Source | Sources:
DNB; GEC; Hunter; ODNB
Notes:
Discrepancy around date of birth: Hunter gives 1640, with some sources stating more specifically 4 August 1640. |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/61897120 |
| Code | NA6308 |