John C. Spencer
John C. Spencer was an American lawyer and politician in the mid-19th century, notable for his association with the Whig Party and his connection to President John Tyler. Appointed to the Supreme Court in September 1844, Spencer's nomination was ultimately rejected by the Senate in a narrow vote, despite the Whig majority. His confirmation struggle was complicated by his strong temperament and the political context surrounding Tyler, who had shifted from the Democratic Party to the Whig Party amid significant political upheaval. Prior to his Supreme Court nomination, Spencer served as Secretary of War and Secretary of the Treasury under Tyler. After his failed confirmation, he returned to his law practice in Albany, where he was recognized for his legal expertise, though he was sometimes criticized for his meticulous attention to detail at the expense of broader case issues. Spencer's career reflects the complexities of political alliances and the challenges faced by individuals in positions of power during a turbulent era in American history.
Subject Terms
John C. Spencer
Nominated by: John Tyler
Significance: Whig Party member Spencer’s nomination to the Supreme Court failed, probably because President John Tyler, who appointed him, lacked the support of the Whigs or the Democrats.
A member of the Whig Party and a friend of President John Tyler, Spencer was appointed to the Supreme Court in September, 1844, but the Senate, despite having a Whig majority, rejected his confirmation by the narrow vote of twenty-one to twenty-six. Tyler had changed party affiliation from Democrat to Whig in order to gain the vice presidency, and upon the death of William Henry Harrison, he became an unelected president alienated from two parties. Spencer’s strong temper also became an issue during his confirmation bid.
Spencer was appointed to replace fellow New Yorker Smith Thompson after serving as Tyler’s secretary of war and secretary of the treasury. In the same year as his failed appointment, Spencer resigned from public office in Washington, D.C., and returned to his thriving law practice in Albany. As a lawyer, his skill was rated very highly, with some reservations about how his zealousness for detail sometimes kept him from focusing on the larger issues of a case.