Earl of Harrington is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1742 for the former Secretary of State and then Lord President of the Council, William Stanhope, 1st Baron Harrington. He had already been created Baron Harrington, of Harrington in the County of Northampton, in 1730, and was made Viscount Petersham at the same time he was given the earldom. These titles were also in the Peerage of Great Britain. Stanhope was the son of John Stanhope of Elvaston and the great-grandson of Sir John Stanhope of Elvaston, younger half-brother of Philip Stanhope, 1st Earl of Chesterfield (who was the grandfather of James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope). Lord Harrington was succeeded by his son, the second Earl. He was a General in the Army and also represented Bury St Edmunds in the House of Commons. His son, the third Earl, was also a General in the Army and sat as Member of Parliament for Thetford and Westminster. His elder son, the fourth Earl, and younger son, the fifth Earl, were both Colonels in the Army. The line of the fifth Earl failed on the early death of his son, the sixth Earl, in 1866. The late Earl was succeeded by his first cousin, the seventh Earl. He was the son of the Very Reverend the Hon. FitzRoy Henry Richard, fourth son of the third Earl. His elder son, the eighth Earl, was a successful polo player. He was succeeded by his younger brother, the ninth Earl. As of 2007 the titles are held by the latter's grandson, the eleventh Earl, who succeeded his father in 1929. In 1967 Lord Harrington also succeeded as eighth Viscount Stanhope of Mahon and eighth Baron Stanhope of Elvaston on the death of his distant relative James Richard Stanhope, 7th Earl Stanhope. This was according to a special remainder in the latter's patent that allowed these titles to be inherited by the male heirs of the aforementioned John Stanhope, father of the first Earl of Harrington.
Earls of Harrington (1742)
- William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington (1683-1756)
- William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington (1719-1779)
- Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington (1753-1829)
- Charles Stanhope, 4th Earl of Harrington (1780-1851)
- Leicester FitzGerald Charles Stanhope, 5th Earl of Harrington (1784-1862)
- Seymour Sydney Hyde Stanhope, 6th Earl of Harrington (1845-1866)
- Charles Wyndham Stanhope, 7th Earl of Harrington (1809-1881)
- Charles Augustus Stanhope, 8th Earl of Harrington (1844-1917)
- Dudley Henry Eden Stanhope, 9th Earl of Harrington (1859-1928)
- Charles Joseph Leicester Stanhope, 10th Earl of Harrington (1887-1929)
- William Henry Leicester Stanhope, 11th Earl of Harrington (b. 1922), now an Irish citizen, who has been thrice married, lastly to Priscilla Cubitt, granddaughter of the 2nd Baron Ashcombe. Their daughter Isabella is the present Countess Cawdor.
The Heir Apparent is the present holder's son Charles Henry Leicester Stanhope, Viscount Petersham (b. 1945) The Heir Apparent's Heir Apparent is his son the Hon. William Henry Leicester Stanhope (b. 1967) who is married and has issue.
See also
References
- Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page
- www.thepeerage.com
