SUNDERLAND, ROBERT SPENCER, second Earl of (1640-1702). An English statesman. He was the only son of Henry Spencer, who was raised to the peerage in 1643. After some diplomatic ser vice abroad he was made a member of Temple's reformed Privy Council of thirty members, and was one of the smaller inner Cabinet with which King Charles II. habitually conferred. Sunder land at first supported the Duke of York and then labored for the Exclusion Bill, which was to exclude the Duke from the succession. Thereby he lost the favor of Charles and his position in the Privy Council (1680). In 1682 he was restored to royal favor through the influence of the Dueh ess of Portland, mistress of Charles II., and the French Ambassador Barillon, and unscrupulously advocated the disgraceful French connection. He remained in office until the accession of James 11., when his influence in the Ministry became greater than ever. Although there is reason co believe he gave some encouragement to Mon mouth in his rebellion, he managed, with con summate art, to obtain the entire confidence of James, and in 1685 became Lord President and principal Secretary of State. In 1687 he pri
vately conformed to the Roman Catholic Church, and afterwards openly professed his conversion. Yet we find him about this time in correspond ence with the Prince of Orange, afterwards Wil liam III. With profligate but masterly dexterity he contrived to deceive both his master and Barillon, and to keep them in ignorance of the events that were passing in Holland. When the Prince arrived in England, Sunderland and his wife went to Amsterdam, whence he wrote to the new monarch, claiming his favor and pro tection on the ground that he had all along been in his interest. In 1691 he was allowed to return to England, and in 1697 was made Lord Chamberlain. Popular indignation, however, compelled him to resign within a few months. He spent the rest of his days at Al thorpe, where he died September 28, 1702.