Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland
Encyclopedia
Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland, originally Anne Digby (c. 1646–26 April 1715) was the wife of Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland
and the daughter of George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol
. Her mother was the former Lady Anne Russell.
Anne married Spencer on 10 June 1665. She was a lady-in-waiting for Mary of Modena
during the reign of James II, and she was present at the birth of the Prince of Wales, signalling to the king that his new child was a boy.
She became a close friend of Sarah Churchill
, later Duchess of Marlborough, and was not liked by Queen Anne
, who was jealous of their friendship. She is alleged to have had an affair with Henry Sidney, Earl of Romney, her husband's uncle. However, John Evelyn
spoke well of her.
She had at least five children by Sunderland, only one of whom outlived her:
Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland
Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland KG, PC was an English statesman and nobleman.-Life:Born in Paris, son of Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland, Spencer inherited his father's peerage dignities at the age of three, becoming Baron Spencer of Wormleighton and Earl of Sunderland...
and the daughter of George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol
George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol
George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 until 1641 when he was raised to the House of Lords...
. Her mother was the former Lady Anne Russell.
Anne married Spencer on 10 June 1665. She was a lady-in-waiting for Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena was Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of King James II and VII. A devout Catholic, Mary became, in 1673, the second wife of James, Duke of York, who later succeeded his older brother Charles II as King James II...
during the reign of James II, and she was present at the birth of the Prince of Wales, signalling to the king that his new child was a boy.
She became a close friend of Sarah Churchill
Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill , Duchess of Marlborough rose to be one of the most influential women in British history as a result of her close friendship with Queen Anne of Great Britain.Sarah's friendship and influence with Princess Anne was widely known, and leading public figures...
, later Duchess of Marlborough, and was not liked by Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
, who was jealous of their friendship. She is alleged to have had an affair with Henry Sidney, Earl of Romney, her husband's uncle. However, John Evelyn
John Evelyn
John Evelyn was an English writer, gardener and diarist.Evelyn's diaries or Memoirs are largely contemporaneous with those of the other noted diarist of the time, Samuel Pepys, and cast considerable light on the art, culture and politics of the time John Evelyn (31 October 1620 – 27 February...
spoke well of her.
She had at least five children by Sunderland, only one of whom outlived her:
- Lord Robert Spencer (1666–1688)
- Lady Anne Spencer (1667–1690), married James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton in 1687
- Lady Isabella (1668–1684)
- Lady Elizabeth Spencer (1671–1704), married Donough MacCarty, 4th Earl of ClancartyDonough MacCarty, 4th Earl of ClancartyDonough [Donagh] MacCarthy, 4th Earl of Clancarty was an Irish supporter of James II, banished after the victory of William of Orange; His peerage was attained in 1691. MacCarthy lived out his life in exile in Germany and on the Elmersmastede in Hoogkerk, Netherlands...
in 1684 - Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of SunderlandCharles Spencer, 3rd Earl of SunderlandSir Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland KG PC , known as Lord Spencer from 1688 to 1702, was an English statesman...
(1674–1722), who married Arabella, daughter of Henry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of NewcastleHenry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of NewcastleHenry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, KG, PC , styled Viscount Mansfield until 1676, was the only son of the William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and his first wife, Elizabeth Basset. His maternal grandparents were William Basset and Judith Austen, daughter of Thomas...
in 1695, then Anne Churchill, second daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of MarlboroughJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of MarlboroughJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
and Sarah ChurchillSarah Churchill, Duchess of MarlboroughSarah Churchill , Duchess of Marlborough rose to be one of the most influential women in British history as a result of her close friendship with Queen Anne of Great Britain.Sarah's friendship and influence with Princess Anne was widely known, and leading public figures...
in 1700.