Spencer wrote numerous articles and books on gynaecological and obstetric topics, as well as on the history of midwifery and the English anatomist and physiologist William Harvey.

In 1901, he published an article on breech birth, where he discussed its dangers and encouraged antenatal screening by examining the abdomen for difficult foetal positions, and advised on its management with particular reference to the external cephalic version.

[1][2] He attended Atherstone Grammar School and in 1879, gained admission to medicine at University College London, achieving the LSA and MRCS in 1883.

[2] In 1901, he published an article on the complications of breech birth, where he advocated routine examination of the pregnant abdomen and described how to turn a baby should it be in the feet or bottom first position.

[3] The procedure of external cephalic version (ECV) had previously been described by François Mauriceau in the 17th century as “a little more difficult than turning an omelette in a frying pan”,[3] and in 1807, the German Justus Heinrich Wigand published a more detailed account.