Brent Spencer

Brent Spencer
General Brent Spencer (only known portrait)
Member of Parliament
for Sligo Borough
In office
27 March 1815 – 1818
Preceded byJoshua Spencer
Succeeded byJohn Bent
Personal details
Born1760
Died29 December 1828 (aged 67–68)
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service British Army
Years of service1778–1828
Commands103rd Regiment of Foot
40th (the 2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot
2nd West India Regiment
95th Regiment of Foot
Rifle Brigade 1st Battalion
40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars

General Sir Brent Spencer GCB (c. 1760 – 29 December 1828) was an Anglo-Irish officer in the British Army, seeing active service during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. During the Peninsular War he became General Wellesley's second-in-command on two occasions. He fought at Vimeiro and testified in Wellesley's favour at the inquiry following the Convention of Cintra. He led a division at Bussaco and two divisions at Fuentes de Onoro. After the latter action, he had an independent command in northern Portugal. Wellesley, now Lord Wellington, was not satisfied that Spencer was up to the responsibilities of second-in-command and he was replaced by Thomas Graham. Miffed, Spencer left Portugal and never returned. He became a full general in 1825.

He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sligo Borough from 1815 to 1818.[1]