John Stanhope, 1st Baron Stanhope
Encyclopedia
John Stanhope, 1st Baron Stanhope of Harrington (1549? – 9 March 1621) was an English courtier, politician and peer.
, born in Yorkshire
, but brought up in Nottinghamshire
after his father's attainder for treason in 1552. His father's end did not apparently hinder his own career, and he is probably the John Stanhope who was Member of Parliament
(MP) for Marlborough
in the Parliament of 1572-1581, for Truro in 1586 and for Rochester
in 1588.
At some point during his early career, Stanhope attached himself to the coat-tails of Sir Robert Cecil
, and subsequently proved a reliable ally, receiving in return a series of appointments. He was Custos Rotulorum of the North Riding
for many years and a member of the Council of the North
, and in 1590 was appointed Master of the King's Posts. In 1596, he was knighted, and appointed as Treasurer of the Chamber
.
In 1597, Stanhope stood for election to Parliament as Member for Yorkshire
, presumably assuming that with his own standing and Cecil's backing he would be certain of success, but they had not reckoned with the independence of the large electorate - Stanhope spent most of his time at court and no longer lived in Yorkshire, and despite his local roots they may have considered him an outsider. According to Stanhope's supporters his principal opponent, Sir John Savile
, was backed by only "eight other gentlemen of any reckoning, but with a great number of clothiers and artificers"; but he was local and strongly connected with the clothing industry that provided many of the voters with their livelihood. Stanhope was defeated in a tumultuous election. After the Archbishop of York and other members of the Council of the North reported to the Privy Council
that Savile had shown contempt for their authority the Council had him arrested, but they could not overturn the election result and were forced to release him in time to take his seat.
Meanwhile Stanhope was hastily found a seat instead for Preston
, a borough Cecil had in his gift as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
. He later sat for Northamptonshire
in the Parliament of 1601 and for Newtown
from 1604 until, on 2 May 1605, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Stanhope of Harrington
.
As one of Cecil's leading followers, it was rumoured in 1600 that Stanhope would soon become Lord Chancellor
. Instead, he was provided for by being appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
. In 1603 he was appointed one of the "Commissioners to treat of a Union between England and Scotland", to settle the arrangements for the inheritance of the English throne by the King of Scotland James VI
, and in 1609, he became a member of the council of the Virginia Company
.
He resigned the Treasurership of the Chamber and retired from his other posts in 1616, and died in 1621. He was succeeded in his peerage (and as Master of the King's Posts) by his son, Charles Stanhope
.
and two daughters:
The later peers of the Stanhope family descend from the first baron's brother, Thomas.
Life
He was the third son of Sir Michael StanhopeSir Michael Stanhope
Sir Michael Stanhope was a Nottinghamshire landowner and suspected rebel against the English Crown. He was a descendant of the ancient Stanhope family of Rampton, Nottinghamshire....
, born in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, but brought up in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
after his father's attainder for treason in 1552. His father's end did not apparently hinder his own career, and he is probably the John Stanhope who was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Marlborough
Marlborough (UK Parliament constituency)
Marlborough was a parliamentary borough in Wiltshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1868, and then one member from 1868 until 1885, when the borough was abolished.e-1295-1640:-1640-1868:...
in the Parliament of 1572-1581, for Truro in 1586 and for Rochester
Rochester (UK Parliament constituency)
Rochester was a parliamentary constituency in Kent. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England from 1295 to 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800, and finally to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801...
in 1588.
At some point during his early career, Stanhope attached himself to the coat-tails of Sir Robert Cecil
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
, and subsequently proved a reliable ally, receiving in return a series of appointments. He was Custos Rotulorum of the North Riding
Custos Rotulorum of the North Riding of Yorkshire
This is a list of people who have served as Custos Rotulorum of the North Riding of Yorkshire.* Sir Leonard Beckwith bef. 1544 – aft. 1547* Sir Henry Gates bef...
for many years and a member of the Council of the North
Council of the North
The Council of the North was an administrative body originally set up in 1484 by king Richard III of England, the third and last Yorkist monarch to hold the Crown of England; its intention was to improve government control and economic prosperity, to benefit the entire area of Northern England...
, and in 1590 was appointed Master of the King's Posts. In 1596, he was knighted, and appointed as Treasurer of the Chamber
Treasurer of the Chamber
The Treasurer of the Chamber was a position in the British royal household, separated in 1485 from that of the Master of the Jewel Office, situated within the Privy Chamber department of the Lord Steward...
.
In 1597, Stanhope stood for election to Parliament as Member for Yorkshire
Yorkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Yorkshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1290, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
, presumably assuming that with his own standing and Cecil's backing he would be certain of success, but they had not reckoned with the independence of the large electorate - Stanhope spent most of his time at court and no longer lived in Yorkshire, and despite his local roots they may have considered him an outsider. According to Stanhope's supporters his principal opponent, Sir John Savile
John Savile, 1st Baron Savile of Pontefract
John Savile, 1st Baron Savile of Pontefract was an English politician; M.P. for Lincoln, 1586: sheriff of Lincolnshire, 1590; knight of the shire for Yorkshire, 1597, 1614, 1624, and 1626; custos rotulorum of West Riding of Yorkshire; ejected from office in 1615, but reappointed in 1626...
, was backed by only "eight other gentlemen of any reckoning, but with a great number of clothiers and artificers"; but he was local and strongly connected with the clothing industry that provided many of the voters with their livelihood. Stanhope was defeated in a tumultuous election. After the Archbishop of York and other members of the Council of the North reported to the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
that Savile had shown contempt for their authority the Council had him arrested, but they could not overturn the election result and were forced to release him in time to take his seat.
Meanwhile Stanhope was hastily found a seat instead for Preston
Preston (UK Parliament constituency)
Preston is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, a borough Cecil had in his gift as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
. He later sat for Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency)
The county constituency of Northamptonshire, in the East Midlands of England was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832 and was represented in...
in the Parliament of 1601 and for Newtown
Newtown (UK Parliament constituency)
Newtown was a parliamentary borough located in Newtown on the Isle of Wight, which was represented in the House of Commons of England then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
from 1604 until, on 2 May 1605, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Stanhope of Harrington
Baron Stanhope
Baron Stanhope, of Harrington in the County of Northampton, was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created on 2 May 1605 for Sir John Stanhope, Vice-Chamberlain of the Household between 1602 and 1616. He was the son of Sir Michael Stanhope and the brother of Sir Thomas Stanhope, ancestor of...
.
As one of Cecil's leading followers, it was rumoured in 1600 that Stanhope would soon become Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
. Instead, he was provided for by being appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household is usually a junior government whip in the British House of Commons and is an officer of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He or she is the Deputy to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. The Vice-Chamberlain's main role is to compile...
. In 1603 he was appointed one of the "Commissioners to treat of a Union between England and Scotland", to settle the arrangements for the inheritance of the English throne by the King of Scotland James VI
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, and in 1609, he became a member of the council of the Virginia Company
Virginia Company
The Virginia Company refers collectively to a pair of English joint stock companies chartered by James I on 10 April1606 with the purposes of establishing settlements on the coast of North America...
.
He resigned the Treasurership of the Chamber and retired from his other posts in 1616, and died in 1621. He was succeeded in his peerage (and as Master of the King's Posts) by his son, Charles Stanhope
Baron Stanhope
Baron Stanhope, of Harrington in the County of Northampton, was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created on 2 May 1605 for Sir John Stanhope, Vice-Chamberlain of the Household between 1602 and 1616. He was the son of Sir Michael Stanhope and the brother of Sir Thomas Stanhope, ancestor of...
.
Family
Stanhope was twice married: first to Joan, daughter of William Knollys, by whom he had no issue; and secondly, on 6 May 1589, to Margaret, daughter of Henry MacWilliams, one of the queen's gentlemen pensioners. By her he had issue- Charles, born in 1593, who succeeded as second baron, but died without issue in 1675, when the title became extinct,
and two daughters:
- Elizabeth, who married Sir Lionel Tollemache, 2nd BaronetSir Lionel Tollemache, 2nd BaronetSir Lionel Tollemache, 2nd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1629....
; and - Catherine, who married Robert, Viscount Cholmondeley.
The later peers of the Stanhope family descend from the first baron's brother, Thomas.