Stanhope, Charles, 3rd Earl of Harrington (1753 -1829)

Charles Stanhope was the eldest son of William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington, and Caroline Fitzroy, eldest daughter of the 2nd Duke of Grafton. He was educated at Eton 1767 1769. He entered the army as an Ensign in the Coldstream Guards in November 1769, and in August 1773 obtained a Captaincy in the 29th Regiment of Foot. In 1774 he was Member of Parliament for Thetford, and in 1776 was elected unopposed for Westminster, a seat he retained until he succeeded to the title on the 1 April 1779. He was present at the capture of Quebec and was aide de camp to General Burgoyne during the American War of Independence. He married, 23 May 1779, Jane, daughter and coheir of Sir John Fleming, Baronet of Brampton Park in Middlesex. The Earl was a General in the Army, Colonel of the 1st Life Guards, Captain, Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle and a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order.