Stanhope , Charles , 1753-1816 , 3rd Earl Stanhope Stirling , Wilhelmina , 1865-1965 , collector and sister of Evelyn De Morgan

Stanhope , Charles , 1753-1816 , 3rd Earl Stanhope Stirling , Wilhelmina , 1865-1965 , collector and sister of Evelyn De Morgan

Charles Stanhope was born in London and educated at Eton College and the University of Geneva. He became MP for High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, in 1780, keeping the seat until 1786, when he became Earl Stanhope on his father's death. Politically, his opinions were liberal and strongly democratic: he supported the abolition of slavery and was sympathetic to religious dissenters and to the French Revolution. Stanhope was also strongly interested in science: he became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1772 and conceived several inventions, including a new type of printing press. William Pitt the Younger was his brother-in-law from his first marriage and Lady Hester Stanhope, who travelled widely in the Middle East, was his eldest daughter.

Wilhelmina Stirling (1865-1965) was a collector of artefacts. She was the younger sister of the painter Evelyn De Morgan, a member of the Pre-Raphaelite art circle.