Page:The Complete Peerage Ed 1 Vol 2.djvu/235

 234 CHESTERFIELD. V. 1726. .'/■ Philip Dormer (Stanhope), Earl of Chesteefield, &c, 1st s. and b., b. 22 Sep. aud bap. 9 Oct. 1T.94. at St. James, Westm. Ed. at Tria. Hall, Cambridge, till the age of 19. M.P. for St, Germans, 1715- 22 ; for Lostwithiel, 1722 to May 1723. Lord of the Bedchamber to George, Prince of Wales. 1715-23, and again to him, when George 11, 1727-30 ; Capt. of the Yeomen of the Guard, 1723-25 ; P.O., Feb. 1728 ; Amiiassador to THE Hacie, 172S-32 (where he distinguished himaelf for the magnificence of his entertainments), and again 17-15. El. K.G. 18 May, and hist., 18 June 1730. Lord Steward of the Household, 1730-33. He was a steady opponent of Walpole's Ministry, anil conse- quently was excluded from office till " the Broad Bottom Administration " of 1744. Lord-Likut. of Ireland, Jany. 1745 to Oct. 17-16. One of the Lor<ls Justices of the Realm, May 1745. Secretary of State (north), Oct. 17-16 to Feb. 1718. He was well- known as the author of " Chesterfield's letters "(?•) and other works, and was distin- guished for his wit and vivacity, as also, unfortunately, for his inveterate love of gambling. Hem. 14 May or 5 Sep. 1733 Melosina, sue jure Countess of Walsjng- HAM-C) He d. a p. 24 March 1773, in his 79th year, at Chesterfield House, Mayfair, Midx.( c i He was 6ur. in Audley Street Chapel, whence, on Easter eve following, he was removed toShelford. Will dat. 4 June 1772, pr. April 1773. His wife, Melosina DK BCHULEMBSBQ (such being the maiden name of her mother), was an illegit. da. of King George 1 being, apparently, his only child by (his favourite Mistress) Erengarde Melosina (de Scuulemrehg), iuo jure DfCHEss of Kendal, Spinster. On 7 Sep. 1722, she was a: BARONESS OF ALDBOROl'GH, co. Suffolk, and COUNTESS UK WALSINGHAM, co. Norfolk, for life, but after her marriage in 1733, she adopted the title of her husband. She tl. s.p. 16 Sep. 1778, when ha' peerage honours, being for life, became extinct. Will pr. 177S. VI. 1773. 5. Philip (Stanhope), Eaki. of Chesterfield, &c, cousin and h. male, being 2nd but only surv. s. and h. of Arthur Charles STANHOPE, of Mansfield Wnodhoiise, Notts, by his 2nd wife Margaret, da. and coheir of Charles Headla.m, of Kerby Hall, eo. York, which Arthur Charles was s. and h. of Michael Stanhope, D.D., Canon of Windsor, 2nd s. of Charles S., who was 3rd s. of Arthur S., both of Mansfield Woodhouse afsd., the said Arthur S. being 11th s. of Philip, the 1st Earl, i.e., his yst. s. by his 1st wife Catharine abovenamed. He was b. 10 and bap. 28 Nov. 1755, at Mansfield, and tUC his Father in that estate 9 March 1770. Was a student at the Univ. of Lcipsie, when in 1773, he sue. his cousin in the Peerage and in the family estates at Bretby, co. Derby, Shelford, Notts, &C. Capt. S5th Foot, 1779 : Lord-Lieut, of Bucks, 17S1-S2 ; Lieut.-Col. of the Bucks Militia ; Ambassador to Spain, 1784 ; P.O., 178-1 ; Master of the Mint, 17S9-90 ; Joint Postmaster Gen., 1790 ; Master of the Horse, 1798-1S04. Col. of the St. George's hatt. of London Volunteers, 1798. El. K.G. 17 Jany. and iust. 23 April, 1S05. F.RS. aud F.S.A. He m. firstly 16 Sep. 1777, Auue, da. of Rev. Thomas Thistletiiwaite, D.D., of Norman Court, Hants, by Selina, da. of Peter Bathuiist, of Clarendon Park, Wilts. She, who was b. 1759, d. 20 Oct. 1798, and was bur. 2 Nov. at Shelford. He m. secondly, 2 May 1799, Henrietta, 3rd .la. of Thomas (THINKS), 1st Marchess of Bath, by Elizabeth, da. of William (Cavendish-Bentinck), Duke of Portland. She, who was b. 17 Nov. 1762, d. 31 May 1813, at Chesterfield House, Mayfair. He d. 29 Aug. 1815. ( a ) Of these, which were written to his illegit. son (who d. before him in 1768), Dr. Johnson remarks that they "inculcated the morals of a Strumpet and the manners of a Dancing-master," but of the Earl himself he adds that he was " a Wit among Lords and a Lord among Wits." His dismissal from Court (1733) is said to have been owing to his indiscreetly " having offended the Queen by paying court to Lady Suffolk," the King's mistress. See Coxe's " IValpoic," quoted in " Collins," Vol. iii, p. 429, note. ('') " Her portion is said to be i'50,000 down and £3,000 per ann., payable out of the civil list revenue in Ireland, during her life." See "Hid. Register." The Duchess of Kendal, who d. in 1743, left her lint a part of her immense wealth, and both mother and daughter were defrauded out of the money left them by George I, by his successor (George II) burning the will. As, however, the Earl threatened to take legal proceedings thereon, that King gave him £20,000 for a quietus. (") This magnificent mansion was finished in 1749. The architect was Ware, the editor of " Palladio." It contains the staircase and columuH from Canons, the Duke of Chandos' palace, at Edgware, Midi.