John Spencer (died 1586)

Sir John Spencer (1524–1586) was an English nobleman, politician, landowner, sheriff, knight, and Member of Parliament. He was an early member of the Spencer family.

Spencer was born the only son of Sir William Spencer of Wormleighton Manor, Warwickshire, and Althorp, Northamptonshire, and his wife Susan, daughter of Sir Richard Knightley of Fawsley, Northamptonshire. He was probably trained at the Middle Temple, succeeded his father in 1532 and was knighted in 1553.

He was appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire for 1551–52, 1558–59, 1571–72 and 1583–84. He was elected Knight of the Shire (MP) for Northamptonshire in April, 1554 and again in 1558.

Sir John Spencer married by 1545 Katherine Kitson, the daughter of Sir Thomas Kitson of the City of London and of Hengrave Hall, Suffolk. They had five sons and six daughters, including

Sir John Spencer died on 8 November 1586, and was buried with his wife Katherine Kitson in St Mary the Virgin Church, Great Brington (the parish church for Althorp) where his epitaph lists his sons, his daughters and their husbands. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Spencer (died 1600). He was a direct ancestor of Prime Minister Sir Winston Spencer Churchill and Lady Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales.

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