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Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth earl of
Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth earl of (1694–1773), was a distinguished statesman and diplomatist, wrote political tracts, contributed to the weekly journal the World and was responsible for securing the adoption of the New Style Gregorian calendar in 1751. He is chiefly remembered for his ‘Letters’ to his natural son Philip Stanhope (1732–68), which were written (not for publication) almost daily from 1737 onwards. These consist largely of instruction in etiquette and the worldly arts, and became after publication (by the son's widow in 1774) a handbook of good manners. Although widely admired, the letters increasingly attracted criticism, as the century became less cynical and more sentimental. Dr Johnson addressed the Plan of his Dictionary to Chesterfield, but it was received with neglect; on publication of the Dictionary, Chesterfield wrote two papers in the World commending it. Thereupon, on 7 Feb. 1755, Johnson addressed to him the famous letter in which he bitterly rejected a notice which ‘had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it.’
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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth earl of." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth earl of." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-ChstrfldPhlpDrmrStnhpfrth.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth earl of." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-ChstrfldPhlpDrmrStnhpfrth.html |
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Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of
Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of (1694–1773). Politician and diplomat. Chesterfield owed his entrée into politics in 1714 to his kinsman James Stanhope. He was elected an MP in 1715 and joined the household of the prince of Wales, the future George II. Inheriting his father's earldom in 1726, he served as ambassador to The Hague, 1728–32, but soon after his return joined the opposition to Walpole. After Walpole's fall he made his peace in 1745 with the ‘old corps’ Whigs, led by the Pelhams, and accepted office as lord-lieutenant of Ireland. He became one of the inner circle of ministers responsible for national policy, and in 1746 was appointed secretary of state (northern department), but his peace aims were frequently upstaged by the bellicosity of his senior colleague Newcastle, and in 1748 he resigned. Chesterfield's Letters to his Son, famously described by Johnson as exhibiting ‘the morals of a whore and the manners of a dancing master’, were published by his widow the year after his death.
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JOHN CANNON. "Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-ChstrfldPhlpDrmrStnhp4thr.html JOHN CANNON. "Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-ChstrfldPhlpDrmrStnhp4thr.html |
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Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of
Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of (1694–1773). Politician and diplomat. Chesterfield owed his entrée into politics in 1714 to his kinsman James Stanhope. Inheriting his father's earldom in 1726, he served as ambassador to The Hague, 1728–32, but after his return joined the opposition to Walpole. After Walpole's fall he made his peace in 1745 with the Pelhams, and accepted office as lord‐lieutenant of Ireland. In 1746 he was appointed secretary of state (northern department), but found his senior colleague Newcastle difficult, and in 1748 resigned. Chesterfield's Letters to his son, famously described by Johnson as exhibiting ‘the morals of a whore and the manners of a dancing master’, were published the year after his death.
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-ChstrfldPhlpDrmrStnhp4thr.html JOHN CANNON. "Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-ChstrfldPhlpDrmrStnhp4thr.html |
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Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, 4th earl of
Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, 4th earl of 1694–1773, English statesman and author. A noted wit and orator, his long public career, begun in 1715, included an ambassadorship to The Hague (1728–32), a seat in Parliament, and a successful tenure as lord lieutenant of Ireland (1745–46). His literary fame rests upon his letters to his illegitimate son, Philip Stanhope (first pub. 1774), designed for the education of a young man, and upon his letters to his godson (pub. 1890).
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Cite this article
"Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, 4th earl of." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, 4th earl of." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ChesterfP.html "Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, 4th earl of." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ChesterfP.html |
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