Sunderland, Charles Spencer, third Earl, son of succeeding, and son in law of the Duke of Marlborough; was a Secretary of State in Queen Anne's reign during 1706-1710, and in the following reign, as leader of the Whigs, exercised unbounded influence over George I.; narrowly escaped, chiefly through Walpole's help, being found guilty of accepting heavy bribes from the South Sea Company; lost office, and was displaying his father's propensity to underhand scheming by intriguing with the Tories and the Pretender's party when death cut short his career (1675‒1722).
Definition taken from The Nuttall Encyclopædia, edited by the Reverend James Wood (1907)
Sunderland * Sunderland, Robert Spencer, second Earl of