Augustus Spencer

General Sir Augustus Almeric Spencer (25 March 1807 – 28 August 1893) was a British Army officer and a member of the Spencer family.

Military career Born the third son of Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill, Spencer was commissioned an Ensign into the 43rd Light Infantry on 8 April 1825. He was promoted to lieutenant on 5 July 1827, captain on 6 April 1831 and major on 21 July 1843.

Spencer was given command of the 44th Regiment of Foot in 1845 and, having been promoted to lieutenant colonel on 17 May 1854 and to colonel on 20 June 1854, he led that regiment at the Battle of Alma, at the Battle of Inkerman and at the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. Spencer was promoted to brevet general the following day.

Family In 1836 he married Helen Maria Campbell, second daughter of General Sir Archibald Campbell, 1st Baronet of New Brunswick. The couple had five daughters and a son: Caroline Laura Spencer, (b. 1844) Elizabeth Maria Spencer, (b. 1845) Augusta Melita Spencer, (b. 1848), married firstly, Col. Sussex Vane Stephenson, and secondly, Rev. Edward Mallet Young Lt.-Col. Augustus Campbell Spencer, (b. 1851), married Hilda Grant-Thorold, daughter of Alexander William Thorold Grant-Thorold Georgina Caroline Spencer (12 February 1854 – 24 April 1864), died in childhood.

One of Spencer's grandsons was the Reverend Canon Henry Spencer Stephenson, Chaplain to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

One of Spencer's great-grandsons, Richard Harry Ramsay Spencer, succeeded as Baron Churchill of Wychwood on 18 October 2017.

Awards On 16 June 1856 Brigadier-General the Hon. Sir Augustus Almeric Spencer, commander of the 44th Regiment of Foot, was awarded the French Legion of Honour that was reported in the Le Moniteur.

Death

Spencer died on 28 August 1893 and was buried at Brompton Cemetery in London.