Bishop Spencer of Madras [Bishop of Ceylon]

A carte-de-visite portrait of George John Trevor Spencer, (1799-1866), from 1837- 1849 the Bishop of Madras in India.

Born at Curzon Street, Mayfair, London, on 4 December 1799, his father was the poet, William Robert Spencer (1769-1845). He was educated at Charterhouse and University College, Oxford (graduated BA, 1822; created DD, 16 June 1847). He was the Perpetual Curate at Buxton from 1824 to 1829, and the Rector of Leaden-Roding in Essex from 1829 to 1837.

At Lambeth Palace on 19 November 1837 he was consecrated Bishop of Madras, occupying the see until 1849. He was chancellor of St. Paul’s cathedral from 11 December 1860 until his death, and Rector of Walton-on-the-Wolds, Leicestershire, from 1861 until his death. He died at Edge Moor, Buxton, on 23 July 1866.

His brother, Aubrey George Spencer, who also appears in the Silvy daybooks, was Bishop of Jamaica from 1843 until 1855.

Photographed by Camille Silvy on 9 May 1862.