William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington

William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington (Godfrey Kneller, 1646-1723)

William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington, PC (c. 1690 – 8 December 1756) was a British statesman and diplomat.

He was a younger son of John Stanhope of Elvaston, Derbyshire, and a brother of Charles Stanhope (1673–1760), an active politician during the reign of George I. His ancestor, Sir John Stanhope (d. 1638), was a half-brother of Philip Stanhope, 1st Earl of Chesterfield. Educated at Eton, William Stanhope entered the army and served in Spain, during the War of the Spanish Succession, but soon he turned his attention to more peaceful pursuits, went on a mission to Madrid and represented his country at Turin.

When peace was made between Britain and Spain in 1720 Stanhope became British ambassador to the latter country, and he retained this position until March 1727, having built up his reputation as a diplomatist during a difficult period. In 1729 he had some part in arranging the Treaty of Seville between Britain, France and Spain, and for his services in this matter he was created Baron Harrington in January 1730.

Later in the same year he was appointed Secretary of State for the Northern Department under Sir Robert Walpole, replacing Lord Townshend, but, like George II, he was anxious to assist the emperor Charles VI in his war with France, while Walpole favoured a policy of peace. Although the latter had his way Harrington remained secretary until the great minister's fall in 1742, when he was transferred to the office of Lord President of the Council and was created Earl of Harrington (Northamptonshire) and Viscount Petersham (Surrey).

In 1744, owing to the influence of his political allies, the Pelhams, he returned to his former post of Secretary of State, but he soon lost the favour of the king, and this was the principal cause why he left office in October 1746. He was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1747 to 1751, and he died in London on 8 December 1756.

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Stanhope, William". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 
 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Edward Mundy Nathaniel Curzon	Member of Parliament for Derby 1715 – 1722 With: Lord James Cavendish	Succeeded by Lord James Cavendish Thomas Bayley
Preceded by John Gumley Marquess of Carnarvon	Member of Parliament for Steyning 1727 With: John Gumley	Succeeded by The Viscount Vane Thomas Bladen
Preceded by Lord James Cavendish Thomas Bayley	Member of Parliament for Derby 1727 – 1730 With: Lord James Cavendish	Succeeded by Lord James Cavendish Charles Stanhope
Diplomatic posts
Vacant War of the Quadruple Alliance Title last held by John Chetwynd	British Ambassador to Spain 1721 – 1727	Succeeded by Benjamin Keene
Political offices
Preceded by Thomas Coke	Vice-Chamberlain of the Household 1727 – 1730	Succeeded by Lord Hervey
Preceded by The Duke of Devonshire	Northern Secretary 1730 – 1742	Succeeded by The Lord Carteret
Preceded by The Earl of Wilmington	Lord President of the Council 1742 – 1745	Succeeded by The Duke of Dorset
Preceded by The Lord Carteret	Northern Secretary 1744 – 1746	Succeeded by The Earl of Chesterfield
Preceded by The Earl of Chesterfield	Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1746 – 1751	Succeeded by The Duke of Dorset
Peerage of Great Britain
New creation	Earl of Harrington 1742 – 1756	Succeeded by William Stanhope
	Baron Harrington 1730 – 1756