Richard Spencer

Sir Richard Spencer (1593 − 1 November 1661) was an English nobleman, gentleman, knight, and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1621 to 1629 and in 1661. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. Early life Spencer was the son of Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton and his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir Francis Willoughby and Elizabeth Lyttelton. He was baptised on 21 October 1593. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford in 1609 and was awarded BA in 1612. His brothers were Sir Edward Spencer, Sir John Spencer, and William Spencer, 2nd Baron Spencer of Wormleighton. Parliamentary career In 1621, Spencer was selected Member of Parliament for Northampton. He was a student of Gray's Inn in 1624. In 1624 and 1625 he was re-elected MP for Northampton. He became a gentleman of the bedchamber in 1626. He was re-elected MP for Northampton in 1626 and 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. Post-parliament actions He was a J.P. for Kent by 1636. Spencer stood for parliament for Kent for the Long Parliament in November 1640, but withdrew before the election took place. He was imprisoned twice by the Long Parliament for promoting the moderate Kentish petition of 1642. He was a commissioner of array for the King in 1642, stood security for loans amounting to £60,000 and helped to raise two regiments of horse, which he commanded at the Battle of Edgehill. He gave up his command in 1643 and was claimed the benefit of the Oxford Articles. He settled £40 a year on the minister of Orpington and was allowed to compound for a mere £300.