= James Stanhope = '''James Stanhope''' was a [[UnitedKingdom/WhigParty|Whig]] politician and member of the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|Parliament]]. <> ---- == History == Stanhope joined the [[UnitedKingdom/ArmedForces#British_Army|Army]] in 1695. He also won election to the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|House of Commons]] in 1701, but continued serving through the [[WorldHistory/WarOfSpanishSuccession|War of Spanish Succession]]. He was selected as the [[UnitedKingdom/WhigParty|Whig]] candidate for the hotly-contested constituency of Westminster in 1710. Amid the '''Sacheverell riots''', the [[UnitedKingdom/ToryParty|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 [[UnitedKingdom/GeorgeI|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 [[Netherlands/AntoniueHeinsius|Dutch government]], the Netherlands were added the next year to form the '''Triple Alliance'''. Within government, he led a faction contrary to [[UnitedKingdom/CharlesTownshend|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/CharlesVI|Austria]] to the '''Triple Alliance''' to form the '''Quadruple Alliance''', fighting the [[WorldHistory/WarOfTheQuadrupleAlliance|War of the Quadruple Alliance]], and navigating a complex diplomacy with [[Sweden/FrederickI|Sweden]] as the [[WorldHistory/GreatNorthernWar|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'''. ---- CategoryRicottone