Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer, TD, FSA, FRSA (23 May 1892 – 9 June 1975), styled The Honourable Albert Spencer until 1910 and Viscount Althorp from 1910 to 1922, and known less formally as Jack Spencer, was a British peer. He was the paternal grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales.
On 5 August 1914, Spencer was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Life Guards,[5] was promoted to lieutenant on 21 October 1914,[6] appointed an aide-de-camp on 9 May 1917,[7] and promoted to captain on 15 June 1917.[8] When 1st Life Guards merged with the 2nd Life Guards on 18 November 1922, Spencer was appointed a captain in the new regiment.[9] He retired from the army on 20 September 1924,[10] but remained a member of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers until reaching the mandatory retirement age on 2 June 1943.[11]
On 27 August 1924, Lord Spencer was appointed the Honorary Colonel of the 4th (Territorial) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment,[12] remaining in that role when it was renamed 50th (Northampton Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion on 1 October 1937,[13] and throughout its various post-war incarnations[14] until finally relinquishing his appointment on 1 April 1967.[15] He was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Decoration on 12 September 1944,[16] with two clasps on 20 November 1953.[17]
Lady Anne Spencer (4 August 1920 – 24 February 2020)[23] married in 1944 to Captain Christopher Wake-Walker (1920–1998), son of Admiral Sir Frederic Wake-Walker, had issue.
Out of a Ducal Coronet Or a Griffin's Head Azure gorged with a Bar Gemelle Gules between two Wings expanded of the second
Escutcheon
Quarterly Argent and Gules in the 2nd and 3rd quarters a Fret Or over all on a Bend Sable three Escallops of the first
Supporters
Dexter: A Griffin per fess Ermine and Erminois gorged with a Collar Sable the edges flory-counterflory and chained of the last and on the Collar three Escallops Argent; Sinister: A Wyvern Erect on his tail Ermine similarly collared and chained
