George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield
Encyclopedia
George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield PC (23 May 1805 – 1 June 1866), styled Lord Stanhope until 1815, was a British
Tory
politician, courtier and race horse owner. He served as Master of the Buckhounds
under Lord Melbourne
from 1834 to 1835.
, and his wife Lady Henrietta, daughter of Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath
, and was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
.
. He served briefly in the Tory administration of Sir Robert Peel as Master of the Buckhounds
from December 1834 to April 1835 and was sworn of the Privy Council in December 1834.
in the 1843 Grand National
aboard his horse Vanguard
. In 1840, after the success of "Crucifix" he decided to give up his expensive mode of living and retire to Bretby. He did construct a gallop of two miles to exercise his horses. Many eminent people visited Bretby to try out their horses or for shooting in Bretby Park. Amongst them were the Earl of Wilton, the Earl of Londesborough, Lord Newport and Sir Henry des Voeux. The best jockeys also came to Bretby.
, in 1830. They had one son and one daughter. Their daughter Lady Evelyn Stanhope (1834–1875) was the first wife of Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon
. Lord Chesterfield died in June 1866, aged 61, and was succeeded in the earldom by his only son, George
. The Countess of Chesterfield died in July 1885, aged 82.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
politician, courtier and race horse owner. He served as Master of the Buckhounds
Master of the Buckhounds
The Master of the Buckhounds was an officer in the Master of the Horse's department of the British Royal Household. The holder was also His/Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot. It was a political office, so the holder, who was always a nobleman, changed with every change of government. The office...
under Lord Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister . He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics...
from 1834 to 1835.
Background and education
Chesterfield was the son of Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl of ChesterfieldPhilip Stanhope, 5th Earl of Chesterfield
Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl of Chesterfield KG, PC, FRS, FSA , known as Philip Stanhope until 1773, was a British politician and diplomat...
, and his wife Lady Henrietta, daughter of Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath
Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath
Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath KG was a British politician who held office under George III serving as Southern Secretary, Northern Secretary and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Between 1751 and 1780 he was known as Lord Weymouth...
, and was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
.
Political career
He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1815 at the age of ten and later took his seat on the Tory benches in the House of LordsHouse of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. He served briefly in the Tory administration of Sir Robert Peel as Master of the Buckhounds
Master of the Buckhounds
The Master of the Buckhounds was an officer in the Master of the Horse's department of the British Royal Household. The holder was also His/Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot. It was a political office, so the holder, who was always a nobleman, changed with every change of government. The office...
from December 1834 to April 1835 and was sworn of the Privy Council in December 1834.
Horse racing
Lord Chesterfield had a great passion for horse racing and spent most of his early years indulging in that pursuit. Although he had some success on the turf, winning the "Oaks" twice, his victories were not frequent enough to pay for the large string of horses he had in training or to finance his lifestyle of lavish party giving and gambling. His racing colours of red cap and jacket with blue sleeves were also carried to victory by Tom OlliverTom Olliver
Thomas 'Tom' Olliver , born Oliver or Olivere, was a steeplechase jockey and racehorse trainer, who won three Grand Nationals as a rider in the 1840s and 50s....
in the 1843 Grand National
1843 Grand National
The 1843 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was the fifth official annual running of a handicap Steeple-chase, later to become known as the Grand National Steeplechase handicap horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on Wednesday March 1st 1843 and attracted a field of sixteen...
aboard his horse Vanguard
Vanguard (racehorse)
Vanguard was a Thoroughbred steeplechase racehorse. At age eight, he defeated fifteen rivals to win the Grand National at his first attempt. Provided jockey, Tom Olliver with his second consecutive victory and became such a favourite of his rider that when he died, Olliver ordered that Vanguard's...
. In 1840, after the success of "Crucifix" he decided to give up his expensive mode of living and retire to Bretby. He did construct a gallop of two miles to exercise his horses. Many eminent people visited Bretby to try out their horses or for shooting in Bretby Park. Amongst them were the Earl of Wilton, the Earl of Londesborough, Lord Newport and Sir Henry des Voeux. The best jockeys also came to Bretby.
Family
Lord Chesterfield married the Honourable Anne Elizabeth Weld-Forester, daughter of Cecil Weld-Forester, 1st Baron ForesterCecil Weld-Forester, 1st Baron Forester
Cecil Weld-Forester, 1st Baron Forester was a British Member of Parliament.Born Cecil Forester, he assumed the additional surname of Weld by Royal licence in 1811, upon inheriting Willey Park from his cousin George Forester. He was elected to the House of Commons for Wenlock in 1790, a seat he...
, in 1830. They had one son and one daughter. Their daughter Lady Evelyn Stanhope (1834–1875) was the first wife of Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon
Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon
Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, PC, DL, FSA, FRS , known as Lord Porchester from 1833 to 1849, was a British politician and a leading member of the Conservative Party...
. Lord Chesterfield died in June 1866, aged 61, and was succeeded in the earldom by his only son, George
George Stanhope, 7th Earl of Chesterfield
George Philip Cecil Arthur Stanhope, 7th Earl of Chesterfield , styled Lord Stanhope until 1866, was a British soldier, and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1860 until 1866 when he inherited his peerage and sat in the House of Lords...
. The Countess of Chesterfield died in July 1885, aged 82.