Philip Dormer Stanhope, Letters To His Godson

Christopher Mayo (Adelphi University)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1774

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Non-Fiction
- Letter(s)

Resources

Owing to the recipients' identical given names and the similarity of method, manner, and matter in the two series of letters, Lord Chesterfield's (Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth earl of Chesterfield) letters to his son and his letters to his godson often are confused. Chesterfield wrote the former group to his illegitimate son, Philip Stanhope (1732-1768). He wrote the latter group to another Philip Stanhope (1755-1815), Chesterfield's distant cousin, whom he agreed to godfather. To confuse matters, in 1757 Chesterfield legally adopted his godson, making him simultaneously Lord Chesterfield's cousin, godson, and son. To avoid inevitable confusion, scholars have taken up the convention of referring to Chesterfield's illegitimate son as …

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608 words

Citation: Mayo, Christopher. "Letters To His Godson". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 February 2007 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=21617, accessed 25 November 2024.]

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