Spencer, George John, 2nd Earl [Althorp Library]

Biography

Second Earl Spencer. Politician and book collector. Born at Wimbledon Park, Surrey, 1758. Took the courtesy title Viscount Althorp 1765 when his father was elevated to an earldom. Privately tutored 1765-70, educated at Harrow 1770-75, admitted Trinity Coll., Cambridge 1776, M.A., 1778. Grand tour of Europe 1778-80. Fellow of the Royal Society 1780. Returned to parliament for Northampton 1780, for Surrey 1782. Junior lord of the Treasury 1782. Succeeded to the earldom 1783. High steward of St Albans 1783. Honorary D.C.L., Oxford, 1793. Joined the government of Pitt, 1794. Lord keeper of the privy seal July 1794. Ambassador-extraordinary to Vienna 1794. First lord of the Admiralty December 1794. Early patron of Isambard Brunel. Left the Admiralty 1801. Home secretary 1806. Retired from national politics 1807. From 1807 onwards, devoted his life to local affairs and his literary, philanthropic and scientific interests. Collected the greatest private library in Europe: by 1834, the library consisted of 40,000 volumes valued at

Biography Date

1758-1834

Biography References

LOC; CERL (EEBO); DNB;

Book List