James Stanhope, 7th Earl Stanhope
Encyclopedia
James Richard Stanhope, 13th Earl of Chesterfield and 7th Earl Stanhope KG
, DSO
, MC
, PC (11 November 1880 – 15 August 1967), styled Viscount Mahon until 1905, and known as The Earl Stanhope from 1905 until 1967, was a British
Conservative
politician.
and Philip Stanhope, 1st Baron Weardale, were his uncles.
on the death of his father in 1905, and made his maiden speech in November 1909. He held his first office as Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office under David Lloyd George
between 1916 and 1919. In 1924 he was appointed Civil Lord of the Admiralty
under Stanley Baldwin
, a post he held until the Conservatives lost power in 1929. The latter year he was also sworn of the Privy Council. After the formation of the National Government in 1931 he served under Ramsay MacDonald
as Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty in 1931, as Under-Secretary of State for War
between 1931 and 1934 and as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the last year under the premiership of Stanley Baldwin.
He entered the cabinet in June 1936 when Baldwin appointed him First Commissioner of Works
. When Neville Chamberlain
became Prime Minister in May 1938 Stanhope was made President of the Board of Education, and in February 1938 he also succeeded Lord Halifax
as Leader of the House of Lords
. In October 1938 he became First Lord of the Admiralty while continuing as Leader of the House of Lords. After the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, he was succeeded as First Lord of the Admiralty by Winston Churchill
and appointed Lord President of the Council
. He remained as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President until Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940. However, he did not serve in Churchill coalition government and never returned to ministerial office. He made his last speech in the House of Lords in December 1960. In 1934 he was made a Knight of the Garter
.
. They had no children. She died in September 1940, aged 51. In 1952 Stanhope succeeded his kinsman the 12th Earl of Chesterfield as 13th Earl of Chesterfield and 7th Baron Stanhope, but never used the more senior earldom of Chesterfield, and continued to be known as The Earl Stanhope. Lord Stanhope died in August 1967, aged 86. On his death the earldoms and the barony of Stanhope became extinct, whereas the viscountcy of Stanhope of Mahon and the barony of Stanhope of Elvaston passed to his nearest heir, the 11th Earl of Harrington
. Lord Stanhope left his country seat Chevening
to the nation.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, PC (11 November 1880 – 15 August 1967), styled Viscount Mahon until 1905, and known as The Earl Stanhope from 1905 until 1967, was a British
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...
Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Background
Stanhope was the eldest son of Arthur Stanhope, 6th Earl Stanhope, and Evelyn Henrietta (née Pennefather). The Hon. Edward StanhopeEdward Stanhope
Edward Stanhope was a British Conservative Party politician.-Background and education:Born in London, Stanhope was the second son of Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope, by his wife Emily Harriet, daughter of General Sir Edward Kerrison, 1st Baronet...
and Philip Stanhope, 1st Baron Weardale, were his uncles.
Political career
Stanhope entered 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....
on the death of his father in 1905, and made his maiden speech in November 1909. He held his first office as Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office under David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
between 1916 and 1919. In 1924 he was appointed Civil Lord of the Admiralty
Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy.Officially known as the Commissioners for Exercising the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland &c. The Lords...
under Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
, a post he held until the Conservatives lost power in 1929. The latter year he was also sworn of the Privy Council. After the formation of the National Government in 1931 he served under Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
as Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty in 1931, as Under-Secretary of State for War
Under-Secretary of State for War
The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean . In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies...
between 1931 and 1934 and as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the last year under the premiership of Stanley Baldwin.
He entered the cabinet in June 1936 when Baldwin appointed him First Commissioner of Works
First Commissioner of Works
The First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings was a position within the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It took over some of the functions of the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests in 1851 when the portfolio of Crown holdings was divided into the public...
. When Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
became Prime Minister in May 1938 Stanhope was made President of the Board of Education, and in February 1938 he also succeeded Lord Halifax
E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, , known as The Lord Irwin from 1925 until 1934 and as The Viscount Halifax from 1934 until 1944, was one of the most senior British Conservative politicians of the 1930s, during which he held several senior ministerial posts, most notably as...
as Leader of the House of Lords
Leader of the House of Lords
The Leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The role is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, usually one of the sinecure offices of Lord President of the Council,...
. In October 1938 he became First Lord of the Admiralty while continuing as Leader of the House of Lords. After the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, he was succeeded as First Lord of the Admiralty by Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
and appointed Lord President of the Council
Lord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
. He remained as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President until Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940. However, he did not serve in Churchill coalition government and never returned to ministerial office. He made his last speech in the House of Lords in December 1960. In 1934 he was made a Knight of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
.
Family
Lord Stanhope married Lady Eileen (1889–1940), the eldest daughter of George Browne, 6th Marquess of Sligo, and Agatha Stewart Hodgson, granddaughter of William FortsythWilliam Forsyth QC
William Forsyth QC was a Scottish lawyer and Conservative Member of Parliament . He was born at Greenock in Renfrewshire, son of Thomas Forsyth and Jean Campbell Hamilton. He died at Knightsbridge, Middlesex....
. They had no children. She died in September 1940, aged 51. In 1952 Stanhope succeeded his kinsman the 12th Earl of Chesterfield as 13th Earl of Chesterfield and 7th Baron Stanhope, but never used the more senior earldom of Chesterfield, and continued to be known as The Earl Stanhope. Lord Stanhope died in August 1967, aged 86. On his death the earldoms and the barony of Stanhope became extinct, whereas the viscountcy of Stanhope of Mahon and the barony of Stanhope of Elvaston passed to his nearest heir, the 11th Earl of Harrington
William Stanhope, 11th Earl of Harrington
William Henry Leicester Stanhope, 11th Earl of Harrington was a British army captain and peer.He was the son of Charles Stanhope, 10th Earl of Harrington and Margaret Trelawney Seaton....
. Lord Stanhope left his country seat 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...
to the nation.