Lot Essay
Raine, Countess Spencer (1929 – 2016) was a British socialite and politician. She was the daughter of Alexander McCorquodale and the romantic novelist Dame Barbara Cartland.
Following her first marriage in 1948 to the future 9th Earl of Dartmouth, Gerald Legge, with whom she had four children, Raine Legge took a strong interest in politics and at 23 became the youngest member of Westminster City Council. As Lady Lewisham and later Lady Dartmouth she played an active role in local politics for the next 17 years. Following her divorce in 1976 Raine, Countess of Dartmouth married John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer becoming the step mother to his children including Diana, the future Princess of Wales. Following the death of Earl Spencer in 1992, Countess Spencer's final marriage was to Count Jean-François Pineton de Chambrun in 1993. After their divorce in 1995 she chose to revert to her previous title, Raine, Countess Spencer.
Following her first marriage in 1948 to the future 9th Earl of Dartmouth, Gerald Legge, with whom she had four children, Raine Legge took a strong interest in politics and at 23 became the youngest member of Westminster City Council. As Lady Lewisham and later Lady Dartmouth she played an active role in local politics for the next 17 years. Following her divorce in 1976 Raine, Countess of Dartmouth married John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer becoming the step mother to his children including Diana, the future Princess of Wales. Following the death of Earl Spencer in 1992, Countess Spencer's final marriage was to Count Jean-François Pineton de Chambrun in 1993. After their divorce in 1995 she chose to revert to her previous title, Raine, Countess Spencer.