James Stanhope
Lord Earl James Stanhope
Born in Paris as the son of a prominent diplomat, Stanhope pursued a military career. Although he also served in Flanders and Italy, he is best remembered for his service in Portugal and Spain during the War of Spanish Succession. He was the first British Governor of Menorca, which he captured from the Spanish in 1708.
Paroled, he returned to Britain and pursued a political career as a Whig. A supporter of the Hanoverian Succession he was rewarded with the office by George I in 1714. As Southern Secretary, he oversaw the negotiation of an Anglo-French Alliance. Emerging as the dominant figure in government after 1717 he led Britain to success in a new Spanish War and suppressed a Jacobite Rising in 1719. However, the government was overtaken by the collapse of the South Sea Bubble and he died in office.
Social
Family Ties
On 24 February 1713, Stanhope married Lucy Pitt (1692–1723), a younger daughter of Thomas Pitt, the first governor of Madras, and aunt to William Pitt the Elder. His sister Mary, one of Queen Anne's six Maids of Honour, 1702–1707, married Charles, 1st Viscount Fane in 1707.
Children
- Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl Stanhope (1714)
- Lady Lucy Stanhope (15 August 1714)
- Lt-Col Hon. George Stanhope (28 December 1717)
- Lady Gertrude Stanhope (b. 1718), died young
- Lady Jane Stanhope (30 October 1719 – ?)
- Hon. James Stanhope (19 August 1721)
- Lady Catherine Stanhope (b. 19 August 1721), died young
Relationships
History
James Stanhope acted as Geroge 1 foreign minister and was made First Lord of the Treasury. The King apparently was devastated at the hearing of Stanhope's death he was quoted saying that the "loss of so able and faithful a minister, of whose service his Majesty had so great need at this critical juncture".
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