James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope
Encyclopedia
James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope PC (c. 1673 – 5 February 1721) was a British
statesman
and soldier
who effectively served as Chief Minister between 1717 and 1721. He is probably best remembered for his service during War of the Spanish Succession
. He was also the first British Governor of Minorca, which he had captured from the Spanish, between 1708 and 1711.
in 1673, the eldest of the seven children of Alexander Stanhope
(1638–1707), and his wife Katherine (died 1718), the daughter and co-heir of Arnold Burghill, of Thinghall Parva, Withington, Herefordshire
, by his second wife Grizell, co-heir of John Prise of Ocle Pyrchard, Herefordshire. He was educated at Eton College
and at Trinity College, Oxford
, where he matriculated in May 1688.
, to Spain
in 1690, and obtained some knowledge of that country which was very useful to him in later life.
where, as afterwards in Flanders
, he served as a volunteer against France
, and in 1695 he secured a commission in the British army
. In 1701 Stanhope entered the House of Commons
, but he continued his career as a soldier and was in Spain and Portugal
during the earlier stages of the War of the Spanish Succession
.
and in 1706 he was appointed British minister in Spain, but his duties were still military as well as diplomatic, and in 1708, after some differences with Peterborough, who favoured defensive measures only, he was made commander-in-chief of the British forces in that country.
Taking the offensive he captured Port Mahon
, Minorca
, and after a visit to England, where he took part in the impeachment of Sacheverell
, he returned to Spain and in 1710 helped to win the battles of Almenar and of Saragossa
, his perseverance enabling the Archduke Charles
to enter Madrid in September. However, at Brihuega
he was overwhelmed by the French and was forced to capitulate on 9 December 1710. The defeat proved a devastating setback to Allied ambitions in Spain, and ultimately led to Phillip V retaining the Spanish throne.
He remained a prisoner in Spain for over a year and returned to England in August 1712. While he was a captive in Spain he stood for and lost a seat in Parliament for Westminster, being defeated by a Tory brewer who made slurs against Stanhope's alleged homosexuality
and whipped up popular anti-war sentiment to carry the seat with a landslide.
, and became one of the leaders of the Whig
opposition in the House of Commons.
on the throne, and suppressing the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion in which supporters of James Stuart
attempted to place him on the throne.
, sharing with Walpole
the leadership of the House of Commons. He was mainly responsible for the measures which were instrumental in crushing the Jacobite Rising
of 1715, and he forwarded the passing of the Septennial Act
.
He acted as George I’s
foreign minister, and only just failed to conclude a treaty of alliance with France
in 1716. In 1717 there was a dramatic schism in the Whig Party with Stanhope and Sunderland forming one grouping while Walpole and Townshend opposed them.
, and was the last Chancellor of the Exchequer to sit in the House of Lords. A year later he returned to his former office of secretary for the southern department. In 1717 he was created Viscount Stanhope of Mahon and in 1718 Earl Stanhope. He was in all but name Prime Minister and is sometimes presented as the first Prime Minister of Great Britain
, rather than Sir Robert Walpole who is more usually considered as that figure.
He saw Britain's principal foreign policy goals as containing the threat of Spanish, Austrian or Russian expansionist tendencies.
His activity was now shown in the conclusion of the Quadruple Alliance
between Britain, France, Austria
and the United Provinces
in 1718, and in obtaining peace for Sweden
, when threatened by Russia
and Denmark
. He entered delicate negotiations with Spain which wished for the return of Gibraltar
, which he was only prepared to do in exchange for Cuba
and Florida
. Ultimately the talks broke down, setting the path to the later Siege of Gibraltar
.
In the ensuing War of Quadruple Alliance British forces were involved in a campaign to prevent Spanish expansion in Italy. Spain landed troops in Scotland in support of the Jacobites
who they hoped to restore to the throne. The expedition was defeated at the Battle of Glen Shiel
and in retaliation the British despatched a force that briefly captured Vigo
in October 1719.
Domestically, he promoted the bill to limit the membership of the House of Lords
a controversial move as it was seen as an attack directed at his former Whig colleagues led by Walpole. His attempts at pushing for greater religious toleration were defeated by Walpole's supporters.
, and he was afterwards privately buried at Chevening
. He was succeeded by his eldest son Philip (1714–1786), a distinguished mathematician and a fellow of the Royal Society
.
, governor of Madras and the aunt of William Pitt
. Although Stanhope found little time for domesticity, it was a happy union, and the couple had seven children, including two sets of twins. Several of his children went on to be notable in their own right.
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
and soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
who effectively served as Chief Minister between 1717 and 1721. He is probably best remembered for his service during War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. He was also the first British Governor of Minorca, which he had captured from the Spanish, between 1708 and 1711.
Background and education
Stanhope was born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1673, the eldest of the seven children of Alexander Stanhope
Alexander Stanhope
Alexander Stanhope was an English envoy in Madrid between 1690 and 1699.-Early Life:He was the youngest son of Philip Stanhope, 1st Earl of Chesterfield and Anne Pakington. He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, graduating in 1654.He married Catherine Burghill, daughter of Arnold Burghill of...
(1638–1707), and his wife Katherine (died 1718), the daughter and co-heir of Arnold Burghill, of Thinghall Parva, Withington, Herefordshire
Withington, Herefordshire
Withington is a village and civil parish in Herefordshire, England, about north-east of Hereford at .-History:One of the historical features of Withington is the Roman mile post situated on the Worcester road...
, by his second wife Grizell, co-heir of John Prise of Ocle Pyrchard, Herefordshire. He was educated at Eton College
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 at Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
, where he matriculated in May 1688.
Political and military career, 1690-1712
Stanhope accompanied his father, then British Ambassador to MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1690, and obtained some knowledge of that country which was very useful to him in later life.
Flanders Campaigns
A little later he went to ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
where, as afterwards in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, he served as a volunteer against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and in 1695 he secured a commission in the British army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. In 1701 Stanhope entered the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, but he continued his career as a soldier and was in Spain and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
during the earlier stages of the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
.
Spanish Campaigns
In 1705 he served in Spain under Charles Mordaunt, Earl of Peterborough, notably at the Siege of BarcelonaSiege of Barcelona (1705)
The Siege of Barcelona took place between 14 September and 19 October 1705 during the War of the Spanish Succession when an Allied army supporting the Austrian pretender to the Spanish throne led by Lord Peterborough captured the city of Barcelona from its Franco-Spanish Bourbonic defenders.An...
and in 1706 he was appointed British minister in Spain, but his duties were still military as well as diplomatic, and in 1708, after some differences with Peterborough, who favoured defensive measures only, he was made commander-in-chief of the British forces in that country.
Taking the offensive he captured Port Mahon
Mahon
Mahón is a municipality and the capital city of the Balearic Island of Minorca , located in the eastern part of the island. Mahon has the second deepest natural harbor in the world: 5 km long and up to 900m. wide...
, Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
, and after a visit to England, where he took part in the impeachment of Sacheverell
Henry Sacheverell
Henry Sacheverell was an English High Church clergyman and politician.-Early life:The son of Joshua Sacheverell, rector of St Peter's, Marlborough,...
, he returned to Spain and in 1710 helped to win the battles of Almenar and of Saragossa
Battle of Saragossa
The Battle of Saragossa took place on 20 August, 1710, between the Spanish-Bourbon army commanded by the Marquis de Bay and a multinational army led by the Austrian commander Guido Starhemberg during the War of the Spanish Succession.-Prelude:...
, his perseverance enabling the Archduke Charles
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
to enter Madrid in September. However, at Brihuega
Battle of Brihuega
The Battle of Brihuega took place on 8 December 1710 in the War of the Spanish Succession, during the allied retreat from Madrid to Barcelona...
he was overwhelmed by the French and was forced to capitulate on 9 December 1710. The defeat proved a devastating setback to Allied ambitions in Spain, and ultimately led to Phillip V retaining the Spanish throne.
He remained a prisoner in Spain for over a year and returned to England in August 1712. While he was a captive in Spain he stood for and lost a seat in Parliament for Westminster, being defeated by a Tory brewer who made slurs against Stanhope's alleged homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and whipped up popular anti-war sentiment to carry the seat with a landslide.
Political career, 1712-1721
Once back in Britain he now abandoned his military career and moved wholly into politics. He soon sat for another seat, WendoverWendover
Wendover is a market town that sits at the foot of the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England. It is also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district...
, and became one of the leaders of the Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
opposition in the House of Commons.
Hanoverian Succession
He had his share in establishing the House of HanoverHouse of Hanover
The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
on the throne, and suppressing the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion in which supporters of James Stuart
James Stuart
James Stuart may refer to:*King James I of England, James VI of Scotland *King James II of England, James VII of Scotland *James Francis Edward Stuart , "the Old Pretender", claimant to the thrones of England and Scotland...
attempted to place him on the throne.
Secretary of State
In September 1714 he was appointed Secretary of State for the Southern DepartmentSecretary of State for the Southern Department
The Secretary of State for the Southern Department was a position in the cabinet of the government of Kingdom of Great Britain up to 1782.Before 1782, the responsibilities of the two British Secretaries of State were divided not based on the principles of modern ministerial divisions, but...
, sharing with Walpole
Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain....
the leadership of the House of Commons. He was mainly responsible for the measures which were instrumental in crushing the Jacobite Rising
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
of 1715, and he forwarded the passing of the Septennial Act
Septennial Act 1715
The Septennial Act 1715 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. It was passed in May 1716. It increased the maximum length of a parliament from three years to seven...
.
He acted as George I’s
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
foreign minister, and only just failed to conclude a treaty of alliance with France
Anglo-French Alliance
This article covers the Anglo-French Alliance between 1716 and 1731. For the alliance that has existed since 1904 see Entente CordialeThe Anglo-French Alliance is the name for the alliance between Great Britain and France between 1716 and 1731...
in 1716. In 1717 there was a dramatic schism in the Whig Party with Stanhope and Sunderland forming one grouping while Walpole and Townshend opposed them.
First Minister
In 1717, consequent on changes in the ministry, Stanhope was made First Lord of the TreasuryFirst Lord of the Treasury
The First Lord of the Treasury is the head of the commission exercising the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer in the United Kingdom, and is now always also the Prime Minister...
, and was the last Chancellor of the Exchequer to sit in the House of Lords. A year later he returned to his former office of secretary for the southern department. In 1717 he was created Viscount Stanhope of Mahon and in 1718 Earl Stanhope. He was in all but name Prime Minister and is sometimes presented as the first Prime Minister of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, rather than Sir Robert Walpole who is more usually considered as that figure.
He saw Britain's principal foreign policy goals as containing the threat of Spanish, Austrian or Russian expansionist tendencies.
His activity was now shown in the conclusion of the Quadruple Alliance
War of the Quadruple Alliance
The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria , and...
between Britain, France, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and the United Provinces
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
in 1718, and in obtaining peace for Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, when threatened by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. He entered delicate negotiations with Spain which wished for the return of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, which he was only prepared to do in exchange for Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Ultimately the talks broke down, setting the path to the later Siege of Gibraltar
Siege of Gibraltar (1727)
The Siege of Gibraltar of 1727 saw Spanish forces besiege the British garrison of Gibraltar as part of the Anglo-Spanish War. Depending on the sources, Spanish troops were between 12,000 and 25,000. British defenders were 1,500 at the beginning of the siege, increasing up to about 5,000...
.
In the ensuing War of Quadruple Alliance British forces were involved in a campaign to prevent Spanish expansion in Italy. Spain landed troops in Scotland in support of the Jacobites
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
who they hoped to restore to the throne. The expedition was defeated at the Battle of Glen Shiel
Battle of Glen Shiel
The Battle of Glen Shiel was a battle in Glen Shiel, in the West Highlands of Scotland on 10 June 1719, between British government troops and an alliance of Jacobites and Spaniards, resulting in a victory for the government forces. It was the last close engagement of British and foreign troops on...
and in retaliation the British despatched a force that briefly captured Vigo
Capture of Vigo
The Capture of Vigo occurred in 1719 during the War of the Quadruple Alliance when a British expedition landed on the Spanish coast and seized the settlement of Vigo which they occupied for ten days before withdrawing...
in October 1719.
Domestically, he promoted the bill to limit the membership of the House of Lords
House 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....
a controversial move as it was seen as an attack directed at his former Whig colleagues led by Walpole. His attempts at pushing for greater religious toleration were defeated by Walpole's supporters.
South Sea Bubble
Just after the collapse of the South Sea Bubble, for which he was partly responsible but from which he did not profit, the earl was defending his government with customary vigour and panache in House of Lords on 4 February 1721 when he was taken ill with a violent headache. After some apparent recovery the following day, he died of a stroke at eight o'clock that evening. The king was shocked and distraught at the sudden "loss of so able and faithful a minister, of whose service his Majesty had so great need at this critical juncture". On the king's orders Stanhope was given a full military funeral through London on 17 February to SouthwarkSouthwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
, and he was afterwards privately buried at Chevening
Chevening
Chevening, also known as Chevening House, is a country house at Chevening in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, in England. It is an official residence of the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom...
. He was succeeded by his eldest son Philip (1714–1786), a distinguished mathematician and a fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
.
Family
On 24 February 1713, Stanhope married Lucy Pitt (1692–1723), a younger daughter of Thomas PittThomas Pitt
Thomas Pitt , born at Blandford Forum, Dorset, to a rector and his wife, was a British merchant involved in trade with India....
, governor of Madras and the aunt of William Pitt
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
. Although Stanhope found little time for domesticity, it was a happy union, and the couple had seven children, including two sets of twins. Several of his children went on to be notable in their own right.