John Canfield Spencer

John Spencer
16th United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office March 8, 1843 – May 2, 1844
President	John Tyler
Preceded by	Walter Forward
Succeeded by	George M. Bibb
17th United States Secretary of War
In office October 12, 1841 – March 4, 1843
President	John Tyler
Preceded by	John Bell
Succeeded by	James Madison Porter
17th Secretary of State of New York
In office February 4, 1839 – October 12, 1841
Governor	William H. Seward
Preceded by	John Adams Dix
Succeeded by	Archibald Campbell (Acting)
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
In office January 4, 1820 – June 30, 1820
Preceded by	Obadiah German
Succeeded by	Peter Sharpe
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 21st district
In office March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819
Preceded by	Archibald S. Clarke
Succeeded by	Albert H. Tracy
Personal details
Born	John Canfield Spencer (1788-01-08)January 8, 1788 Hudson, New York, U.S.
Died	May 17, 1855(1855-05-17) (aged 67) Albany, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican (Before 1825) Whig (1825–1855)
Spouse	Elizabeth Scott Smith ​ ​ (m. 1809)​
Relatives	Ambrose Spencer (Father)
Education	Williams College Union College (BA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1812–1814
Battles/wars	War of 1812

John Canfield Spencer (January 8, 1788 – May 17, 1855) was an American lawyer, politician, judge and United States Cabinet secretary in the administration of President John Tyler.^[1]

After graduating from Union College in 1806, Spencer practiced law and held various positions, including master of chancery, postmaster, and attorney general. Spencer served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1817 to 1819 and the New York State Assembly and Senate in various years between 1820 and 1833. As an anti-Mason, he investigated the disappearance of William Morgan, which sparked the Anti-Masonic movement.

In 1841, President John Tyler appointed Spencer as Secretary of War, and in 1843, he became Secretary of the Treasury. Spencer faced challenges in his role as Treasury Secretary, including a deficit, tariffs, and the development of a plan for a Board of Exchequer. President Tyler nominated Spencer for open Associate Justice seats on the Supreme Court twice in 1844, but both attempts failed. Spencer resigned as Treasury Secretary in May 1844 and returned to Albany.

Spencer married Elizabeth Scott Smith in 1809, and they had several children, many of whom died young or under unfortunate circumstances.