Sunderland, Charles Spencer, 3d earl of definition of Sunderland, Charles Spencer, 3d earl of in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Sunderland, Charles Spencer, 3d earl of, 1674–1722, English statesman; son of the 2d earl. His marriage (1700) to a daughter of the 1st duke of Marlborough brought him a secretaryship of state (1706), and he was powerful in the Whig junto that controlled affairs from 1708 to 1710. He fell with the Whigs in 1710. After the accession (1714) of George I, he was at first given minor offices, but through intrigue he secured the dismissal of Viscount Townshend Townshend, Charles Townshend, 2d Viscount (toun`zĕnd)
..... Click the link for more information. and Robert Walpole Walpole, Robert, 1st earl of Orford, 1676–1745, English statesman.

Early Life and Career

He was the younger son of a prominent Whig family of Norfolk.
..... Click the link for more information. and became a secretary of state (1717) and first lord of the treasury (1718), sharing leadership with the 1st Earl Stanhope Stanhope, James Stanhope, 1st Earl, 1673–1721, English general and statesman. During the War of the Spanish Succession he participated in the capture (1705) of Barcelona, was appointed (1706) minister
..... Click the link for more information. . He was so involved with the development of the South Sea Bubble South Sea Bubble, popular name in England for the speculation in the South Sea Company, which failed disastrously in 1720. The company was formed in 1711 by Robert Harley , who needed allies to carry through the peace negotiations to end the War of the Spanish
..... Click the link for more information. that its collapse forced him out of office in 1721. He was an important collector of books and manuscripts.