Chesterfield, Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl, 1633-1713

Stanhope, Philip, second earl of Chesterfield (1633-1714), courtier and politician, was the eldest son of Henry Stanhope (d. 1634), and his wife Katherine (bap. 1609, d. 1667). He was involved in numerous duels, fleeing the country after having killed Francis Wolley, the son of a Hammersmith doctor, in a duel on 17 January 1660. Chesterfield was appointed on 24 February 1662 as lord chamberlain to Queen Catherine of Braganza, and on 13 June 1667 was made the colonel of a foot regiment, but it was disbanded following the treaty of Breda. That year he married his third wife, Lady Elizabeth Dormer (1653-1677). They had two sons and two daughters, one of whom was Lady Mary Stanhope, for whom the manuscript was written. He continued to be active in politics, supporting his tory son-in-law Thomas Coke in Derbyshire elections in 1701-2.

From the description of Instructions for the education of Lady Mary Stanhope, 1682. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702184277