STANHOPE, PHILIP HENRY, Earl, historian and biographer, was representative of a branch of the family of the Stanhopes. earls of Chesterfield. Its founder, a distinguished diplomatist III the reigns of William III. and Queen Aune, was son of the first earl of Chesterfield. James, first earl Stanhope, was an eminent military commander, who effected the reduction of Port Mahon, in the island of Minorca, and was the favorite minister of George 1. His grandson, the third earl, distinguished for his scieut.fic re searches, and inventor of a printing-press which bears his name, died.1816. The subject of this notice, only son of the fourth earl. was porn at Walmer, 1805. His courtesy title was viscount Mahon. He received a private education, but graduated at Oxford, where he took his B.A. degree, 1827; created D.C.L. 1834. He entered the house of commons in 1830. He was greatly instrumental in 1842 in securing the passing of the copyright act (q.v.); was under-secretary for foreign affairs during the brief Peel admin istration, 1834-35; and secretary to the Indian board of control under the same minister, 184•-46. He was. a moderate conservative in politics, and was warmly attached to sir B. Peel, who named him one of his literary executors. His contributions to history are numerous and valuable. Macaulay, in a review of one of his earliest works, the War of the Succession in Spain, accredits him with some of the most valuable qualities of a viz., perspicuousness, conciseness, ''great diligence in examining authorities,
great judgment in weighing testimony, and great impartiality in estimating characters." His most considerable work is A History of England from the Peace if Utrecht to the Peace of Versailles, 1713-83, in 7 vols. His other works include a Life of the Right lion. W. Pitt; a History of Spain under Charles II.; a Life& the Great Conde; a 'rife of Belisarius; a volume of Historical and Critical Essays; and a volume of Miscellanies. Of the Life of Condi it may be remarked that it was originally written by the author in the French language, and that the English work is really a translation, executed under his superin tendence. In conjunction with the right hon. E. Cardwell he edited the .Memoirs ef Sir R. Peel; and he also published an edition of Lord Chestoftold's Letters. He was elected president of the society of Antiquaries, 1846; lord rector of the university of Aberdeen, 1858. He was mainly instrumental in procuring the appointment 'of the historical manuscripts commission. He was elected one of the six foreign members of the acad emy of moral and political sciences at Paris in 1872. His death took place at Bourne mouth, Dec. 24, 1875.