Sir Robert Cavendish Spencer was born in the Spencer family home at
Althorp,
Northamptonshire, son of
The 2nd Earl Spencer and
Lavinia, Countess Spencer. He served as private secretary to
King William IV (when William was the Duke of Clarence) from 1827 to 1828, and Spencer was knighted for his services. He had a distinguished career in the
Royal Navy and was well liked by the men he commanded. (As a young officer, he was a participant at the
Battle of New Orleans). Spencer was the captain of
HMS Madagascar, which had just returned from
Alexandria,
Egypt, and died aboard his ship while in
quarantine in Malta on 4 November 1830, aged 39. His body was kept in quarantine at
Lazaretto for the full 40 days required, and his remains were buried at
St. Michael's Bastion in
Valletta on 12 December 1830. This part of the bastion was later renamed Spencer's Bastion. The burial service was conducted by
Madagascar's Chaplain Reverend David Morton. On Spencer's tomb was the inscription: The Spencer Monument was designed by the Maltese architect
Giorgio Pullicino in 1831 and was originally located at Corradino Hill. It was moved to its present position in 1893. It was struck by lightning in 1975 and suffered considerable damage, however it was later restored to its original glory. ==See also==