Earl of Harrington is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain that was created in 1742.

History

The earldom of Harrington was granted in 1742 to William Stanhope, 1st Baron Harrington, the former Secretary of State and then Lord President of the Council. He was made Viscount Petersham at the same time. In 1730, he had been created Baron Harrington, of Harrington in the County of Northampton. These titles were also in the Peerage of Great Britain. Lord Harrington 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 William, 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 in 1866 upon the early death of his son, the sixth Earl. The latter was succeeded by his first cousin, the seventh Earl. He was the son of the Very Reverend and 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. His grandson, the eleventh Earl, succeeded his father in 1929.

In 1967, the eleventh Earl also succeeded as eighth Viscount Stanhope (of Mahon) and eighth Baron Stanhope (of Elvaston) upon the death of his distant relative James Stanhope, 7th Earl Stanhope, by a special remainder in these titles' patent that allowed them to be inherited by the male heirs of the aforementioned John Stanhope, father of the first Earl of Harrington. As of 2016[update], the titles are held by the eleventh Earl's son, the twelfth Earl, who succeeded his father in 2009.

The former family seat was Elvaston Castle, in Derbyshire. The house and grounds are currently owned by Derbyshire County Council, which has opened the gardens as a country park. The 5th Earl had a London townhouse built on land formerly belonging to Kensington Palace – Harrington House remained in the family until the First World War. It is currently home to the Russian Embassy.

Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon, wife of the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, nephew of Queen Elizabeth II and a member of the extended British royal family, is the daughter of the 12th Earl of Harrington.

Baron Harrington (1730)

Earl of Harrington (1742)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, William Henry Leicester Stanhope, Viscount Petersham (born 1967). Lady Petersham (Candida Bond) is a Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire. The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, the Hon. Augustus Stanhope (born 2005).

Title succession chart

Title succession chart, Barons Harrington and Earls of Harrington.
Baron Harrington Earl of Harrington William Stanhope 1st Earl of Harrington 1st Baron 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 1780–1851Maj.Gen. Hon. Lincoln Stanhope 1781–1840Leicester Stanhope 5th Earl of Harrington 1784–1862Hon. William Stanhope 1785–1786Rev. Hon. FitzRoy Stanhope 1787–1864 Charles Stanhope Viscount Petersham 1831–1836Algernon Stanhope 1838–1847Sydney Stanhope 6th Earl of Harrington 1845–1866Charles Stanhope 7th Earl of Harrington 1809–1881 Charles Stanhope 8th Earl of Harrington 1844–1917Hon. FitzRoy Stanhope 1845–1913Hon. Lincoln Stanhope 1849–1902Hon. Wyndham Stanhope 1851–1883Dudley Stanhope 9th Earl of Harrington 1859–1928 Charles Stanhope 10th Earl of Harrington 1887–1929 Charles Stanhope 1921–1921William Stanhope 11th Earl of Harrington 1922–2009 Charles Stanhope 12th Earl of Harrington born 1945 William Stanhope Viscount Petersham born 1967 Augustus Stanhope born 2005
Baron Harrington Earl of Harrington
William Stanhope 1st Earl of Harrington 1st Baron 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 1780–1851Maj.Gen. Hon. Lincoln Stanhope 1781–1840Leicester Stanhope 5th Earl of Harrington 1784–1862Hon. William Stanhope 1785–1786Rev. Hon. FitzRoy Stanhope 1787–1864
Charles Stanhope Viscount Petersham 1831–1836Algernon Stanhope 1838–1847Sydney Stanhope 6th Earl of Harrington 1845–1866Charles Stanhope 7th Earl of Harrington 1809–1881
Charles Stanhope 8th Earl of Harrington 1844–1917Hon. FitzRoy Stanhope 1845–1913Hon. Lincoln Stanhope 1849–1902Hon. Wyndham Stanhope 1851–1883Dudley Stanhope 9th Earl of Harrington 1859–1928
Charles Stanhope 10th Earl of Harrington 1887–1929
Charles Stanhope 1921–1921William Stanhope 11th Earl of Harrington 1922–2009
Charles Stanhope 12th Earl of Harrington born 1945
William Stanhope Viscount Petersham born 1967
Augustus Stanhope born 2005

Gallery

See also

Works cited

External links