Person Information

Relationships

Spouse

Spencer, Elizabeth Scott

Children

Spencer, Philip

Parents

Spencer, Laura

Spencer, Ambrose

Biography

John Canfield Spencer was born on January 8, 1788, in Hudson, New York. His parents were Laura and Ambrose Spencer, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in New York.



Spencer attended Union College in Schenectady, New York and graduated in 1806. After graduation, he commenced the study of law in Albany, New York. In 1809, once admitted to the bar, John began practicing law in Canandaigua, New York. That same year, he married Elizabeth Scott Smith, with whom he had several children. Spencer had a robust political career. Most notably, he served as William Henry Seward’s Secretary of State from 1839-1841. Spencer was appointed Secretary of the Treasury and subsequently Secretary of War under President John Tyler. 



John Canfield Spencer died on May 17, 1855, in Albany, New York after suffering from prolonged illness.

Letter References

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, July 17, 1852

Letter from Frederick William Seward to William Henry Seward, March 26, 1852

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, April 27, 1850

Letter from Frederick William Seward to William Henry Seward, April 18, 1854

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, October 11, 1848

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, August 16, 1848

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, March 22, 1843

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, March 12, 1843

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, February 10, 1843

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, September 29, 1844

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, January 15, 1843

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, March 7, 1843

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, October 23, 1842

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, October 24, 1841

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, October 3, 1841

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, June 12, 1840

Letter from Albert Haller Tracy to William Henry Seward, November 19, 1831

Letter from Albert Haller Tracy to William Henry Seward, September 19, 1831

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 10, 1839

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, April 14, 1837

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, October 29, 1839

Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 25, 1840

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, January 17, 1841

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, January 10, 1841

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 26, 1839

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August 25, 1838

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, October 14, 1838

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, February 13, 1843

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, February 7, 1834

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, January 31, 1834

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, February 15, 1834

Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, October 13, 1834

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, January 8, 1834

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, Janurary 1, 1833

Letter from Samuel Sweezey Seward to William Henry Seward, March 11, 1833

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, November 23, 1832

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, September 20, 1831

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, May 5, 1837

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, November 13, 1838

Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 1, 1838

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, December 26, 1838

Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, November 29, 1838

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, November 18, 1838

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, August 18, 1838

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, March 6, 1838

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, November 14, 1839

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, October 29, 1839

Letter from Augustus Henry Seward to Frances Alvah Worden, November 26, 1839

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 28, 1839

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, August 31, 1839

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, June 4, 1839

Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, October 15, 1835

Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, September 12, 1835

Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, December 19, 1834

Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, November 24, 1834

Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, November 28, 1834

Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, December 5, 1834

Letter from Samuel Sweezey Seward to William Henry Seward, August 4, 1834

Letter from Samuel Sweezey Seward to William Henry Seward, May 8, 1834

Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, August 22, 1834

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, July 22, 1833

Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, January 19, 1840

Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, February 3, 1831

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, March 8, 1831

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, January 16, 1831

Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, January 6, 1831

Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 

John Canfield Spencer was born on January 8, 1788, in Hudson, New York. His parents were Laura and Ambrose Spencer, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in New York.

Spencer attended Union College in Schenectady, New York and graduated in 1806. After graduation, he commenced the study of law in Albany, New York. In 1809, once admitted to the bar, John began practicing law in Canandaigua, New York. That same year, he married Elizabeth Scott Smith, with whom he had several children. Spencer had a robust political career. Most notably, he served as William Henry Seward’s Secretary of State from 1839-1841. Spencer was appointed Secretary of the Treasury and subsequently Secretary of War under President John Tyler. 

John Canfield Spencer died on May 17, 1855, in Albany, New York after suffering from prolonged illness.

Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://history.army.mil/books/sw-sa/Spencer.htm
Title of Webpage: 
John Canfield Spencer
,
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://digitalworks.union.edu/alumnifiles_1806/14/
Title of Webpage: 
Union - Digital Works
Website Viewing Date: 
Friday, January 7, 2022 - 19:15
Website's Last Modified Date: 
Friday, January 7, 2022 - 19:15
,
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://digitalworks.union.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&context=alumnifiles_1806
Title of Webpage: 
Spencer, John Canfield
Website Viewing Date: 
Friday, January 7, 2022 - 19:15
Website's Last Modified Date: 
Friday, January 7, 2022 - 19:15
,
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/S/SPENCER,-John-Canfield-(S000727)/#biography
Title of Webpage: 
History, Art & Archives: United Stares House of Representatives
Website Viewing Date: 
Friday, January 7, 2022 - 19:15
Website's Last Modified Date: 
Friday, January 7, 2022 - 19:15
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6911960
Title of Webpage: 
Find a Grave MEMORIAL ID 6911960
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, July 14, 2014 - 12:30
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, July 14, 2014 - 12:30
Citation Notes: 
BURIAL Albany Rural Cemetery Menands, Albany County, New York, USA
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/2226/32229_420302988_0077-00852?pid=312340&backurl=https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DCMl169%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26qh%3DRgEkt9Bjrv13PeN/qCgdnw%253D%253D%26gss%3D
Title of Webpage: 
Ancestry, Albany Rural Cemetery Burial Cards, 1791-2011
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, July 14, 2014 - 12:30
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, July 14, 2014 - 12:30
Citation Notes: 
Source Information Ancestry.com. Menands, New York, Albany Rural Cemetery Burial Cards, 1791-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Albany Rural Cemetery Internment Cards. Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, New York.