CHESTERFIELD, Earl of (PHILIP DORMER STANHOPE), an EngliSh statesman and author, eldest son of the third earl of C., was b. in London, Sept. 22, 1694, and studied at Cambridge. In 1714, he made the tour of Europe, and the following year was appointed a gentleman of the bedchamber to the prince of Wales. About the same time, he was elected M.P. for St. Germains, in Cornwall. In 1726, on his father's death, he became earl of C., and in 1727 was sworn a privy-councillor. In 1728, he was appointed ambassador extraordinary to Holland, and in 1730 was made a knight of the garter and lord steward of the household, but soon resigned that office. An eloquent and frequent speaker, he took an active part in all the important business in the house of lords, a.nd was for several years the strenuous opponent of sir Robert Walpole, then premier. In 1744, he connected himself with the administration, and in 1745 was reappointed ambassador to the Hague, but was soon nominated lord-lieut. of Ireland,
where he rendered himself exceedingly popular.. In Oct., 1746, he became one of the principal secretaries of state, but, two years after, declining health caused him to resin office, and in 1732 he was seized with deafness. Distinguished by brilliancy of wit, polished grace of manners, and elegance of conversation, he lived in intimacy-with Pope, Swift, Bolingbroke, and other eminent men of the day. Dr. Johnson, whose dictionary, on its appearance, he affected to recommend, called him "a wit among lords, and a lord among wits." He wrote several papers, on temporary subjects, in 27e Craftsman, the World, periodicals of the time; but he is now best known by his Letters to lds Son, Philip Dormer, written for the improvement of his manners. These letters have been often republished, and they afford a good idea of the mental and moral caliber of the author. Lord C. died Mar. 24, 1773.