Joseph Spencer (October 3, 1714 – January 13, 1789) was an American lawyer, soldier, and statesman from Connecticut. During the Revolutionary War, he served both as a delegate to the Continental Congress and as a major general in the Continental Army. Early life Spencer was born in East Haddam, Connecticut. Spencer was the son of Isaac and Mary (née Selden) Spencer. He was the great-grandson of Gerard and Hannah Spencer, who were part of the first settlers of East Haddam in 1662. Career He was trained as a lawyer and practiced until 1753, when he became a judge. He was active in the militia, serving in King George's War and as a Lieutenant Colonel of the Middlesex militia in the French and Indian War. By the time the American Revolution began, Spencer had advanced to Brigadier General of Connecticut’s militia, and in April 1775 he led them to support the Siege of Boston as the 2nd Connecticut Regiment. In June, when these units were adopted into the national army, he was made a brigadier general in the Continental Army; he was amongst the first eight Continental Army brigadier generals so appointed. In 1776, Spencer was promoted to major general in support of William Heath in the Eastern Department. The following year his military career became difficult. He cancelled a planned attack on British forces in Rhode Island and was censured by the Continental Congress. He demanded a court of inquiry and was exonerated, but when the controversy was resolved, he resigned his commission on June 14, 1778. Spencer first served on the Connecticut Council (or Connecticut State Senate) in 1776. Free of military responsibility, the state sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1779. In 1780, he was returned to the council, and served there until his death. After the Revolutionary War he became eligible for membership in the Society of the Cincinnati of the State of Connecticut. Personal life August 2, 1738, Joseph Spencer married Martha Brainerd (1716–1754), with whom he had five children. Martha Spencer (1739–1739/40), who died young. Martha Spencer (), who married Joseph Cone, Jr. (born 1735). Anne Spencer (born 1746). Joseph Spencer, Jr. (1750–1824), who became a surgeon and served as an aid to his father during the Revolution. Nehemiah Spencer (born 1752) After his first wife's death in 1754, he married Hannah (née Brown) Southmaid (1730–1808), with whom he had eight