The title Earl Spencer was created in 1765 in the Peerage of Great Britain for John Spencer, 1st Viscount Spencer , a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. The famous Lady Diana Spencer, later Princess of Wales, was the daughter of the 8th Earl.

The subsidiary titles of Lord Spencer are: Viscount Spencer, of Althorp in the County of Northampton (created 1761), Viscount Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northampton (1765), Viscount Althorp, of Brington in the County of Northampton (1905), and Baron Spencer of Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northampton (1761). All titles save one are in the Peerage of Great Britain; the 1905 Viscountcy of Althorp is in the Peerage of the United Kingdom The courtesy title of the eldest son and heir of the Earl Spencer is Viscount Althorp.

The family seat is Althorp in Northamptonshire.

Earls Spencer (1765)

• John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer (1734 - 1783)
• George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758 - 1834)
• John Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer (1782 - 1845)
• Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer (1798 - 1857)
• John Poyntz Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer (1835 - 1910)
• Charles Robert Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer (1857 - 1922)
• Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer (1892 - 1975)
• Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer (1924 - 1992)
• Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer (b. 1964)

Heir Apparent: Louis Frederick Spencer, Viscount Althorp (b. March 13 1994)

See also:

• Spencer family
• Spencer Gulf