Earl Spencer (peerage)
| Earldom of Spencer | |
|---|---|
 
Quarterly Argent and Gules in the 2nd and 3rd quarters a Fret Or over all on a Bend Sable three Escallops of the first.
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| Creation date | 1 November 1765 |
| Monarch | George III |
| Peerage | Peerage of Great Britain |
| First holder | John Spencer |
| Present holder | Charles Spencer, 9th Earl |
| Heir apparent | Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp |
| Remainder to | the 1st Earl's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten |
| Subsidiary titles | Viscount Althorp Viscount Spencer Baron Spencer of Althorp |
| Seat(s) |
Althorp Spencer House |
Earl Spencer is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain that was created on 1 November 1765, along with the title Viscount Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northamptonshire, for John Spencer, 1st Viscount Spencer. He was a member of the prominent Spencer family and a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. Previously, he had been created Viscount Spencer, of Althorp in the County of Northamptonshire, and Baron Spencer of Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northamptonshire, on 3 April 1761.
The future 6th Earl Spencer was created Viscount Althorp, of Great Brington in the County of Northamptonshire, on 19 December 1905 in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Diana, Princess of Wales, was the youngest of three daughters of the 8th Earl Spencer. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry are grandsons of the 8th Earl Spencer.
The family seat is Althorp in Northamptonshire. Their estate includes significant land holdings in other parts of the country, including the village of North Creake in Norfolk. The family also holds the Spencer House in London.
The coat of arms of the family is as follows: Quarterly argent and gules, in the second and third quarters a fret or, over all on a bend sable, three escallops of the first. The crest, emerging from the coronet, is a griffin's head argent, gorged with a bar gemelle gules between two wings expanded of the second. The supporters are: Dexter, a griffin per fess ermine and erminois, gorged with a collar sable, the edges flory-counter-flory, and chained of the last, on the collar, three escallops argent; sinister, a wyvern erect on his tail ermine, collared and chained as the griffin. The motto is Dieu defend le droit (French: God protect the right).
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