George Spencer (bishop)


George John Trevor Spencer was an Anglican bishop in the 19th century and a member of the Spencer family.

Life

He was the son of William Spencer, younger son of Lord Charles Spencer, and a great-grandson of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough. He was educated at University College, Oxford, made deacon 1823 by the Bishop of Lincoln and ordained priest by the Bishop of Salisbury in 1824. He became Perpetual curate of Buxton until 1829, when he became Rector of Leaden Roding until his appointment as the Bishop of Madras in 1837. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity. The post came through the influence of John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton, his brother-in-law.
Resigning his See in 1849, he was afterwards minister of the Marbœuf Chapel in Paris; an assistant Bishop of Bath and Wells and commissary during Bagot's illness; and then Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral from 1860. His last post was as Rector of Walton on the Wolds, Leicestershire.

Family

Spencer married in 1823 Harriet Theodora, daughter of Benjamin Hobhouse. They had two sons and three daughters.
Spencer's brother Aubrey Spencer became first Bishop of Newfoundland in 1839, then Bishop of Jamaica.