William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington

Who was William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington?

General William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington was a British politician and soldier.

The son of William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington, he took up a military career and joined the Foot Guards in 1741, and was also returned for Aylesbury. He was wounded at the battle of Fontenoy and shortly thereafter was appointed colonel of the Second Troop of Horse Grenadier Guards, an appointment he held for the remainder of his life.

He married Lady Caroline FitzRoy, daughter of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, on 11 August 1746. They had seven children:

Lady Caroline Stanhope, married Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth

Lady Isabella Stanhope, married Charles Molyneux, 1st Earl of Sefton

Lady Amelia Stanhope, married Richard Barry, 6th Earl of Barrymore

Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington

Capt. Hon. Henry Fitzroy Stanhope, married Elizabeth Falconer and had issue; he was subject to a court martial in June 1783 over his actions during the invasion of Tobago but was found not guilty. The Lieutenant Governor of the island George Ferguson was also cleared of any blame at a subsequent enquiry. Stanhope went on to become MP for Bramber from February 1782 until 1784.