William Spencer

William Spencer (c. 1751 – c. 1816) was an English mathematical instrument maker of the 18th and 19th centuries. Spencer entered into a partnership with Samuel Browning to form the company of Spencer & Browning after he apprenticed with instrument maker Richard Rust. When Ebenezer Rust joined the partnership, the resultant firm was known as Spencer, Browning & Rust. The company manufactured navigational instruments for both domestic and international markets.

Apprenticeship

William Spencer, son of Anthony Spencer, was born in around 1751 in England. The contract indicated that his father Anthony Spencer was a shoemaker of the parish of Church Minshull in the County Palatine of Chester, now simply known as Cheshire. In consideration of the sum of ten pounds paid by William's father, Richard Rust agreed to instruct his apprentice, as well as provide him with the necessities of life, including food, drink, clothing, and lodging. As in this case, a mathematical instrument maker often specialized in navigational instruments. Rust himself had apprenticed, and received his freedom in 1752. Richard Rust died in around 1785; his will was proved in December 1785. The resultant company of Spencer & Browning manufactured instruments for navigational use. The partners of the firm were also referred to as "optical and mathematical instrument" makers. Samuel Browning was married to William Spencer's sister Catherine (17 May 1777).

Spencer, Browning & Rust When Ebenezer Rust joined the partnership of Spencer and Browning in 1784, the firm of Spencer, Browning & Rust was established. One of the oldest items in the collection of the United States Geological Survey Museum is a quintant sextant or lattice sextant (pictured) that was manufactured by Spencer, Browning & Rust. The last surviving original partner, Samuel Browning, died in about 1819.

Family William Spencer and his wife Ann had no children but he was followed in the business by the sons of his brother John Spencer: Samuel, John, Anthony and William Spencer as well the sons of his sister Catherine Spencer (the wife of his partner Samuel Browning): Richard, William and Samuel Browning. William Spencer, died about 1816.