Robert Spencer 1641 - 1702
Robert Spencer , only son and heir. Politician; ambassador at Madrid, Paris, and Cologne (1671-78); secretary of state for northern department (1679) and member of inner cabinet (1679-81); opposed Shaftsbury; worked to exclude Duke of York from succession and thereby lost his place in privy council (1681); reinstated as secretary of state (1683); architect of [Missing XREF c-stuart63726]'s pro-French foreign policy; influential under [Missing XREF c-stuart63730] as lord president of council and principal secretary of state; effected dismissal of his rival, Rochester, after professing Roman Catholicism (1687); dismissed for disapproving James's plans (1688). On arrival of [Missing XREF c-unknown64498] in England fled to Holland; returned (1690); established himself as one of William' s chief advisers; made lord chamberlain (1697) and one of lord justices; induced William to choose all his ministers from one party, the modern system; virtual head of government until forced by popular indignation to resign (1697).
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| Born: Paris, France 5th Sep 1641 | Baptised:
| | Died: Althorp, Northants., England 28th Sep 1702 | Buried:
| | Family: Spencer |
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