Born December 4, 1895, in Chicago, Illinois. At Phillips Academy, from which he graduated in 1913, he was a member of the Phi Lambda Delta society. At Yale he became a leader. He was on the Dramatic Club and the Junior Promenade Committee; he was manager of the basketball team and President of the Minor Sports; and he belonged to Alpha Delta Phi and Wolf's Head. While in college, Spencer gained some experience in aviation with the 1st Battery of the New York State Militia. He sailed for France, June 20, 1917, joined the LaFayette Escadrille, received his pilot's brevet at Tours, October 20, 1917, and was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. On January 22, 1918, in the afternoon, he left the ground in order to practice aerobatics and after doing various "stunts," he made a renversement, ending in a vrille, but did not come out as soon as he had expected. His machine crashed to earth, the hood striking him just below the eyebrows and killing him instantly.