SPENCER, JOHN C'ANFIELD (178S-1,955). An American jurist and politician, born at Hudson, N. Y. He graduated at Union College in 1806, studied law, and was admitted to the bar at Canandaigua in 1809. In 1813 he was brigade judge-advocate-general in the army on the north ern frontier. From 1817 to 1819 he was a Demo cratic member of the United States Douse of Representatives and wrote the report condemning the United States Bank, which was afterwards used by President Jackson at a time when the author's views had changed. In 1820-21 he was a member of the Lower House of the State Legis lature. serving as Speaker the first year. He was in the State Sanate from 1824 to 1828, and in 1827 was appointed by Governor Clinton one of the committee to revise the statutes of New York, This work was finished in 1830: a second edition was published in 1835-36, and a third in 1846-48. For a time be was affiliated with the
Anti-Masonic Party, and he was appointed by Governor Van Buren to prosecute the alleged ab ductors of William Morgan (q.v.). but resigned in 1830. He again sat in the Legislature in 1832, and in 7S34-40 was Secretary of State for New York and Superintendent of Schools. On October 12, 184], he became Secretary of War in the Cabi net of President Tyler. He was transferred to the Treasury Department, March 3, 1843, but op posed measures looking to the annexation of Texas and resigned Nay 2, 1844. He then re sumed the practice of law at Albany. and was influential in establishing the State Asylum for Idiots. He edited a translation of De Tocque ville's Democracy in America (2 vols., 1838). Consult Proctor, Review of John C. Spencer's Legal and Political Career (New York, 1886).