Charles Stanhope (1673–1760) facts for kids
Charles Stanhope (born 1673, died 1760) was an important English lawyer and politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like a parliament, from 1717 to 1741. He was involved in some big financial events, including those related to the South Sea Company. Even though there were questions about his actions, he was strongly supported by the government and found innocent of any wrongdoing.
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Who Was Charles Stanhope?
Early Life and Education
Charles Stanhope was born in 1673. He was the second son of John Stanhope. His family lived at Elvaston, Derbyshire. His mother was Dorothy Agard.
Charles studied law at the Inner Temple. He became a lawyer, or "barrister," in 1703. Later, in 1730, he inherited the family lands after his older brother, Thomas, passed away.
A Career in Politics
Charles Stanhope had a powerful cousin named James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope. In 1714, James made Charles his assistant. This helped Charles start his political career.
In 1717, Charles Stanhope ran for Parliament in a special election. Even though he didn't win at first, he was later given the seat. This meant he became a Member of Parliament on July 6, 1717.
Important Roles and Challenges
From 1717 to 1721, Charles Stanhope worked as the Secretary to the Treasury. This was a very important job, helping to manage the country's money.
Around this time, there was a huge financial event called the South Sea Bubble. It involved the South Sea Company. Many important people, including Charles's cousin James Stanhope, were investigated. Charles Stanhope was also looked into. However, he managed to keep his political career, unlike some others.
In the 1722 election, Charles was given a safe seat in Parliament by the Duke of Newcastle. He won this seat easily in 1722 and again in 1727.
Charles wanted a higher government job. But King George II found an old note from Charles that caused a disagreement. Because of this, the King didn't want to give Charles any special favors. Charles believed that another politician, Walpole, was stopping him. This made Charles and Walpole strong rivals.
Even though he owed his seat to the Duke of Newcastle, Charles usually supported the government. However, in 1729, he disagreed with them on one issue. In the 1734 election, he won a seat in Harwich on his own. After this, he joined the group of politicians who were against the government. He did not run for Parliament in 1741.
In 1726, Charles Stanhope became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for scientists and thinkers.
Later Years and Legacy
Charles Stanhope never married. He passed away in 1760. His younger brother was William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington. William's son, also named William, later became the 2nd Earl of Harrington.
