He was a bright young man who achieved an M.A. (Oxon) in 1636. Astaunch Royalist, he was trusted by Charles I. Created Earl ofSunderland in June 1643 he had little time to hold the title becausehe was killed at the Battle of Newbury on 20 September that year andburied at Brington.

At the age of 19, Henry had married Dorothy Sidney on 20 July 1639 atPenshurst in Kent. She had been born at Sion House, Isleworth,Middlesex on 5 October 1617, died in February 1684 and was buried inthe Spencer chapel at Brington church. Waller immortalised her as 'Sacharissa' in his poems. She was the daughter of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester and Dorothy, daughter of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland and Dorothy De~reux (the latter being the widow of Sir John Perrot, ancestor of the author).

The only son and heir of Henry was Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland.