John Charles Spencer Biography and Timeline

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Becomes Chancellor of the Exchequer in Earl Grey's Whig government.

Role range: 1830-1834

Factory Act

The Factory Act restricts child labour and creates a professional factory inspectorate.

Role range: 1830-1834

Spencer Advances Factory Regulation

John Charles Spencer, Viscount Althorp, assisted the passage of the government's 1833 Factory Act through Parliament.

Young Child Workday Limited

The 1833 Act limited the working day of children aged nine to thirteen to eight hours in covered factories.

Adolescent Factory Hours Restricted

The law restricted the working hours of young persons aged thirteen to eighteen in covered textile factories.

Four Factory Inspectors Authorized

The statute created four government factory inspectors with powers to investigate breaches of employment restrictions.

Factory Inspectorate Receives Statutory Powers

The 1833 Factory Act established a government inspectorate with authority to enforce new rules in textile factories.

Factories Required To Provide Schooling

The 1833 Act required children working in regulated textile mills to receive two hours of education each working day.

Factory Employment Under Nine Prohibited

The factory legislation of 1833 generally barred employment of children under nine in covered textile mills.

Child Factory Hours Receive Statutory Limits

The 1833 Act limited the hours worked by children aged nine to thirteen and further restricted the hours of older young workers.

Factory Inspectors Gain Statutory Authority

The Factory Act of 1833 established a professional inspectorate that later helped enforce restrictions on working hours.