Edward Stanhope
Encyclopedia
Edward Stanhope was a British Conservative Party
politician.
, Stanhope was the second son of Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope
, by his wife Emily Harriet, daughter of General Sir Edward Kerrison, 1st Baronet
. Arthur Stanhope, 6th Earl Stanhope was his elder brother and Philip Stanhope, 1st Baron Weardale his younger brother. He was educated at Harrow
and Christ Church, Oxford
. Stanhope studied law, being called to the bar
at the Inner Temple
in 1865. In 1861 he played three first-class cricket
matches for Kent
.
for Mid Lincolnshire
, a seat he held until 1885, and then represented Horncastle
until his death. He soon rose to a position of prominence within the party. In 1875 he became Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade
, and in 1878 moved up to Under-Secretary of State for India
, where he was a key assistant to India Secretary Lord Cranbrook.
After the Tories' fall from power in 1880, Stanhope supported Commons leader Sir Stafford Northcote
against younger Tories led by Lord Randolph Churchill
in internal Conservative party squabbling. When the Conservatives returned to the power, Stanhope became Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education
, with a seat in the cabinet, and almost immediately thereafter President of the Board of Trade. He moved up to major cabinet office in Salisbury's second government, serving first as Colonial Secretary
from 1886 to 1887 and then as Secretary of State for War
from 1887 to 1892 following a cabinet reshuffle in January 1887.
As War Secretary, Stanhope fought for reform against the reactionary high officers — most notably the Duke of Cambridge
, the Commander in Chief, and Sir Garnet Wolseley, the Adjutant-General. In spite of his own inexperience in military affairs and this formidable opposition, Stanhope achieved a fair amount, although it was his Liberal
successor, Henry Campbell-Bannerman
, who managed to push Cambridge into retirement.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Background and education
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Stanhope was the second son of Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope
Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope
Philip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope FRS , styled Viscount Mahon between 1816 and 1855, was a British politician and historian...
, by his wife Emily Harriet, daughter of General Sir Edward Kerrison, 1st Baronet
Sir Edward Kerrison, 1st Baronet
General Sir Edward Kerrison, 1st Baronet, GCH, KCB was a British Army officer and politician.Kerrison was a Lieutenant-Colenel in the Seventh Light Dragoons when he, with Charles Wetherell petitioned parliament over electoral malpractice in the parliamentary elections for Shafstubry...
. Arthur Stanhope, 6th Earl Stanhope was his elder brother and Philip Stanhope, 1st Baron Weardale his younger brother. He was educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. Stanhope studied law, being called to the bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1865. In 1861 he played three first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches for Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
.
Political career
In 1874 Stanhope was elected to the House of CommonsBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for Mid Lincolnshire
Mid Lincolnshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Lincolnshire, formally called the Mid Division of Lincolnshire, was a county constituency in Lincolnshire. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote electoral system.-History:The constituency was created by...
, a seat he held until 1885, and then represented Horncastle
Horncastle (UK Parliament constituency)
Horncastle was a county constituency in Lincolnshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. MPs were elected by the first past the post system of voting....
until his death. He soon rose to a position of prominence within the party. In 1875 he became Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade in the United Kingdom was a member of Parliament assigned to assist the Board of Trade and its President with administration and liaison with Parliament. It replaced the Vice-President of the Board of Trade....
, and in 1878 moved up to Under-Secretary of State for India
Under-Secretary of State for India
This is a list of Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State and Permanent Under-Secretaries of State at the India Office during the period of British rule between 1866 and 1948, and for Burma from 1858-1948....
, where he was a key assistant to India Secretary Lord Cranbrook.
After the Tories' fall from power in 1880, Stanhope supported Commons leader Sir Stafford Northcote
Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh
Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh GCB, PC , known as Sir Stafford Northcote, Bt, from 1851 to 1885, was a British Conservative politician...
against younger Tories led by Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill MP was a British statesman. He was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane , daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
in internal Conservative party squabbling. When the Conservatives returned to the power, Stanhope became Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
The Secretary of State for Education is the chief minister of the Department for Education in the United Kingdom government. The position was re-established on 12 May 2010, held by Michael Gove....
, with a seat in the cabinet, and almost immediately thereafter President of the Board of Trade. He moved up to major cabinet office in Salisbury's second government, serving first as Colonial Secretary
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
from 1886 to 1887 and then as Secretary of State for War
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
from 1887 to 1892 following a cabinet reshuffle in January 1887.
As War Secretary, Stanhope fought for reform against the reactionary high officers — most notably the Duke of Cambridge
Prince George, Duke of Cambridge
Prince George, Duke of Cambridge was a member of the British Royal Family, a male-line grandson of King George III. The Duke was an army officer and served as commander-in-chief of the British Army from 1856 to 1895...
, the Commander in Chief, and Sir Garnet Wolseley, the Adjutant-General. In spite of his own inexperience in military affairs and this formidable opposition, Stanhope achieved a fair amount, although it was his Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
successor, Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman GCB was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1908. He also served as Secretary of State for War twice, in the Cabinets of Gladstone and Rosebery...
, who managed to push Cambridge into retirement.