Baron Churchill (1815 creation)

Baron Churchill, of Wychwood in the County of Oxford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom and held by a branch of the Spencer family. It was created in 1815 for Lord Francis Spencer,[1][2][3] younger son of the 4th Duke of Marlborough (see Duke of Marlborough for earlier history of the family). He had previously represented Oxfordshire in Parliament.

Baron Churchill
Arms: Quarterly: 1st & 4th, quarterly Argent and Gules, the second and third quarters charged with a Fret Or, over all a Bend Sable, charged with three Escallops Argent (Spencer); 2nd & 3rd, Sable, a Lion rampant Argent, on a Canton (of honourable augmentation) Argent, a Cross Gules (Churchill). Crest: Out of a Ducal Coronet Or, a Griffin’s Head between two Wings expanded Argent, gorged with a Bar gemel Gules. Supporters: Dexter: A Griffin wings elevated per fess Argent and Or. Sinister: A Wyvern wings elevated Gules, both gorged with a Collar Or, charged with three Escallops Sable, attached thereto a line reflexed over the back, terminating in an Annulet Or.
Creation date	11 August 1815
Creation	First
Monarch	The Prince Regent (acting on behalf of his father King George III)
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Lord Francis Spencer
Present holder	Michael Spencer, 7th Baron Churchill
Heir presumptive	Hon. David Spencer
Status	Extant
Motto	DIEU DEFEND LE DROIT (English: God defend my right)
The Barony of Churchill was held by the Viscounts Churchill from 1902 to 2017

Viscount Churchill
Creation date	14 July 1902
Monarch	Edward VII
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Victor Spencer, 3rd Baron Churchill
Last holder	Victor Spencer, 3rd Viscount Churchill
Status	Extinct
Extinction date	18 October 2017

From 1902 to 2017, the barony was subsidiary title of the viscountcy of Churchill. The title of Viscount Churchill, of Rolleston in the County of Leicester, was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom on 15 July 1902 for the first baron's grandson Conservative politician Victor Spencer, 3rd Baron Churchill.[4] The viscountcy became extinct in 2017 on the death of the first Viscount's youngest son, the third Viscount, who had succeeded his half-brother, the second Viscount, in 1973.

The barony was inherited by the last Viscount's second cousin once removed,[5] the great-grandson of General the Hon. Sir Augustus Almeric Spencer GCB, who was the third son of the 1st Baron Churchill.

Baron Churchill (1815)

• Francis Almeric Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill (1779–1845)
• Francis George Spencer, 2nd Baron Churchill (1802–1886)
• Victor Albert Francis Charles Spencer, 3rd Baron Churchill (1864–1934, created Viscount Churchill in 1902)

Viscount Churchill (1902)

• Victor Albert Francis Charles Spencer, 1st Viscount Churchill (1864–1934)
• Victor Alexander Spencer, 2nd Viscount Churchill (1890–1973)
• Victor George Spencer, 3rd Viscount Churchill (1934–2017[6])

Baron Churchill (1815; reverted)

• Richard Harry Ramsay Spencer, 6th Baron Churchill (1926–2020)[5]
• Michael Richard de Charrière Spencer, 7th Baron Churchill (born 1960)

The heir presumptive is the present holder's brother, the Hon. David Anthony de Charrière Spencer (born 1970).

Male-line family tree

Male-line family tree, Barons Churchill and Viscounts Churchill.

Francis Spencer 1st Baron Churchill 1779–1845 Francis Spencer 2nd Baron Churchill 1802–1886 Lt. Col. Hon. George Spencer 1804–1877 Gen. Hon. Sir Augustus Spencer 1807–1893 Viscount Churchill Victor Spencer 1st Viscount Churchill 3rd Baron Churchill 1864–1934 Lt. Col. John Spencer-Munro 1849–1916 Lt. Col. Augustus Spencer 1851–1912 Hon. Victor Spencer 1888–1888 Victor Spencer 2nd Viscount Churchill 4th Baron Churchill 1890–1973 Victor Spencer 3rd Viscount Churchill 5th Baron Churchill 1934–2017 Capt. Almeric Spencer-Munro 1885–1960 Col. Richard Spencer 1888–1956 Viscountcy extinct Richard Spencer 6th Baron Churchill 1926–2020 Michael Spencer 7th Baron Churchill born 1960 Hon. David Spencer born 1970

References

1. History of Parliament Online "Lord Francis Almeric (1779-1845), of Wychwood and Cornbury Park, Oxon". Retrieved on 8 January 2019.
2. Cracrofts peerage "Churchill, Baron (UK, 1815)". Retrieved on 8 January 2019.
3. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography "Spencer, Francis Almeric, first Baron Churchill of Wychwood". Retrieved on 8 January 2019.
4. "No. 27455". The London Gazette. 18 July 1902. p. 4586.
5. "The 3rd (and last) Viscount Churchill, OBE 1934-2017". Peerage News. UK. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018. The viscountcy of Churchill (created in 1902) now becomes extinct. The 3rd Viscount is succeeded in the barony of Churchill (created in 1815) by his second cousin once removed, Richard Harry Ramsay Spencer, born 11 Oct, 1926, who becomes the 6th Baron Churchill.
6. "Death Announcements: CHURCHILL". The Telegraph. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Francis George Spencer, 2nd Baron Churchill
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Victor Alexander Spencer, 2nd Viscount Churchill
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Victor George Spencer, 3rd Viscount Churchill

See also

• Duke of Marlborough
• Earl Spencer