Augustus Spencer

General Sir Augustus Almeric Spencer was born on 25 March 1807. He was the third son of Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill. Spencer pursued a military career in the British Army and was commissioned as an Ensign into the 43rd Light Infantry on 8 April 1825. He was subsequently promoted to lieutenant on 5 July 1827, captain on 6 April 1831, and major on 21 July 1843.

In 1845, Spencer was appointed to command the 44th Regiment of Foot. He received further promotions to lieutenant colonel on 17 May 1854 and to colonel on 20 June 1854. During the Crimean War, he led the 44th Regiment at notable engagements including the Battle of Alma, the Battle of Inkerman, and the Siege of Sevastopol.

Following his service in the Crimean War, Spencer became commander of a brigade at Aldershot in 1856. On 13 February 1860, he was promoted to major general, and that same year, he became the General Officer Commanding a division of the Madras Army in India. In 1866, he served as General Officer Commanding Western District in the United Kingdom.

Spencer was promoted to lieutenant general on 9 May 1868. He then served as Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army in 1869, a position he held until his retirement in 1875. After the death of General Arthur Simcoe Baynes on 13 September 1875, Spencer was promoted to brevet general on 14 September 1875.

Regarding his family, Spencer married Helen Maria Campbell in 1836. She was the second daughter of General Sir Archibald Campbell, 1st Baronet of New Brunswick. The couple had six children: five daughters—Helen Frances Spencer (born 1843), married Colonel Robert Spencer Liddell; Caroline Laura Spencer (born 1844); Elizabeth Maria Spencer (born 1845); Augusta Melita Spencer (born 1848), who married firstly Colonel Sussex Vane Stephenson and secondly Reverend Edward Mallet Young; and Georgina Caroline Spencer (born 1854, died 1864 in childhood). Their son was Lt.-Col. Augustus Campbell Spencer (born 1851), who married Hilda Grant-Thorold.

One of Spencer's grandsons was Reverend Canon Henry Spencer Stephenson, known for serving as Chaplain to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. A great-grandson, Richard Harry Ramsay Spencer, succeeded as Baron Churchill of Wychwood on 18 October 2017.

On 16 June 1856, Spencer was awarded the French Legion of Honour, as reported in the Le Moniteur, in his capacity as commander of the 44th Regiment of Foot.

General Sir Augustus Almeric Spencer died on 28 August 1893 and was buried at Brompton Cemetery in London.