James Stanhope
James Stanhope was a Whig politician and member of the Parliament.
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History
Stanhope joined the Army in 1695. He also won election to the House of Commons in 1701, but continued serving through the War of Spanish Succession.
He was selected as the Whig candidate for the hotly-contested constituency of Westminster in 1710. Amid the Sacheverell riots, the Tories swept the election including this seat. Furthermore, just before election day, he was captured and taken as prisoner of war.
Stanhope was released in 1712 and quickly won election (in Wendover now) to the Commons, emerging as a leading opposition politician.
With the Hanoverian succession and a Whig victory in 1714 elections, Stanhope was appointed secretary of state for the Southern Department. He became the primary implementer of the new king's Hanoverian foreign policy. Importantly, he negotiated the Anglo-French Alliance with the regent Philippe II, Duke of Orleans. Without seeking input from the Dutch government, the Netherlands were added the next year to form the Triple Alliance.
Within government, he led a faction contrary to Townshend's leadership. In 1717 he secured Townshend's dismissal, ensuring he became leader of the government, but also beginning the Whig Split which would preoccupy his government domestically for three years.
Instead Stanhope continued to focus on foreign policy. This included adding Austria to the Triple Alliance to form the Quadruple Alliance, fighting the War of the Quadruple Alliance, and navigating a complex diplomacy with Sweden as the Great Northern War wound down.
In 1717 he was created baron of Elvaston and viscount of Mahon. The next year he was raised to Earl Stanhope.
Stanhope died in office in 1721, leaving behind his government that was rapidly collapsing under the South Sea Bubble.