Earl Stanhope

The coat of arms of James Stanhope, 7th Earl Stanhope, the final holder of the title, who died in 1967.

Earl Stanhope (/ˈstænʊp/)[1] was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. The earldom was created in 1718 for Major General James Stanhope,[2] a principal minister of King George I, with remainder to the heirs male of his body. He was the son of the Hon. Alexander Stanhope, fifth and youngest son of Philip Stanhope, 1st Earl of Chesterfield. In 1717, James Stanhope had been raised to the peerage as Viscount Stanhope, of Mahón in the Island of Minorca, and Baron Stanhope, of Elvaston in the County of Derby, with special remainder, failing heirs male of his body, to his second cousin John Stanhope of Elvaston (who was the father of William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington) and the heirs male of his body. These titles were also in the Peerage of Great Britain. The heir apparent of the Earls Stanhope used Viscount Mahon as a courtesy title.

  1. ^ Debrett's Correct Form, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 1976, pg 408
  2. ^ Edward Hasted, 'Parishes: Chevening', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 3 (Canterbury, 1797), pp. 105-126. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol3/pp105-126