John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer

John Poyntz Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer KG PC ( born October 27, 1835 in London, † August 13 1910 in Althorp ) was a British Liberal politician.

Spencer was born in 1835 as son of Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer. He attended from 1848 to 1854 the Harrow School and then Trinity College, University of Cambridge, where he received his Masters in 1857. In 1857 he was elected for the District of South Northamptonshire in the House of Commons, but switched in December in the House of Lords because he inherited the title of Earl Spencer after the death of his father. On July 8, 1858, he married Charlotte Seymour. The marriage, however, remain childless.

1868-1874 Spencer was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He held a second time from 1882 to 1885 this office. In this second term also covers the Phoenix Park murders. In addition, he was from 1880 to 1883 and in 1886 Lord President of the Council. The office of the First Lord of the Admiralty in 1892, he had held until 1895.

After Spencer died on 13 August 1910 without leaving a male heir, the title of Earl Spencer walked over to his half-brother Charles.