Nicholas Spencer
Nicholas Spencer | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia Council of State | |
| In office 1672–1689 Serving with John Washington | |
| Member of the House of Burgesses for Westmoreland County | |
| In office 1668–1669 Serving with John Washington | |
| Preceded by | Isaac Allerton Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Richard Lee II |
| In office June 1666 – October 1666 | |
| Preceded by | Isaac Allerton Jr |
| Succeeded by | Isaac Allerton Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1633 |
| Died | 23 September 1689 (aged 55–56) |
| Occupation | planter, politician |
Colonel Nicholas Spencer (1633 – 23 September 1689) was an English-born merchant, planter and politician in colonial Virginia. Born in Cople, Bedfordshire, Spencer migrated to the Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he became a planter and which he twice briefly represented in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Spencer later served as the colony's Secretary and on the Governor's Council, rising to become its President. On the departure of his cousin Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper in 1683, he was named Acting Governor (1683–84), in which capacity Spencer served until the arrival of Governor Lord Howard of Effingham. Spencer's role as agent for the Colepepers helped him and his cousin Lt. Col. John Washington, ancestor of George Washington, secure the patent for their joint land grant of the Mount Vernon estate.