Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland & 3rd Baron Spencer
- Born: 23 Nov 1620, Althorp, Daventry District, Northamptonshire, England
- Marriage (1): Dorothy Sidney in 1639
- Died: 20 Sep 1643, Newbury, West Berkshire Unitary Authority, Berkshire, England at age 22
- Buried: St Mary the Virgin with St John Churchyard, Great Brington, Daventry District, Northamptonshire, England
General Notes:
Henry, 1st Earl of Sunderland & 3rd Baron Spencer was the son of William, 2nd Baron Spencer and Penelope. He was born at Althorp and baptised Nov. 23, 1620 in Brington, Northamptonshire, England. Upon the death of his father, sixteen year old Henry was brought to Althorp from his studies at Oxford, where he had already received a Master of Arts degree.
He married Dorothy Sidney, she was the eldest of eight daughters of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester and Dorothy Percy, the ninth daughter of the Earl of Northumberland. Dorothy's parents called her "Doll". The couple went to France to live with Dorothy's parents, where her father was ambassador.
In 1641, the couple returned to England and Henry took his seat in the House of Lords. In 1642 the Parliament party offered him the Lord Lieutenancy of Northamptonshire. On June 8, 1643 Henry was raised to the Earl of Sunderland by King Charles I.
Henry died on Sept. 20, 1643 in The Battle of Newbury. He was struck by a cannon ball in the groin. His body was taken to The Chequers coaching house at nearby Speenhamland, where it was laid out with those of Lords Carnarvon and Falkland. His bowels were interred on the battlefield, his heart preserved for prosperity in a lead casket packed with motor. His heart was buried in the family vault at Brington.
Henry married Dorothy Sidney in 1639. (Dorothy Sidney was born in 1617, died on 5 Feb 1684 and was buried in St Mary the Virgin with St John Churchyard, Great Brington, Daventry District, Northamptonshire, England.)
|
