Sir John Stanhope (1559 – 1611) was an English knight and landowner, and father of Philip Stanhope, 1st Earl of Chesterfield.
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Career
John Stanhope was the son of Sir Thomas Stanhope (d. 1596) of Shelford Manor, Nottinghamshire, and Margaret Port, the daughter of Sir John Port of Etwall, Derbyshire, and Elizabeth Giffard.
Charles Cavendish had a feud with the Stanhope family over issues including a fish weir in the River Trent. He arranged to fight a duel with John Stanhope at Lambeth choosing rapiers as the weapon. They came to Lambeth bridge by boat. It was discovered that Stanhope was wearing a sword-proof padded doublet. The fight was called off. In November 1599 Cavendish was shot in the backside by Stanhope's followers while visiting Kirkby Hardwick.
Marriages and family
Stanhope married firstly, Cordelia Alington, with whom he had his eldest son and heir, Philip Stanhope, 1st Earl of Chesterfield (d.1656).
Stanhope married secondly, Catherine Trentham (1566–1621). Their children included:
John (died 29 May 1638), later Sir, High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1629. Married Mary Radcliffe. He was granted Elvaston Castle and its estate, which had once belonged to the dissolved Shelford Priory, by his father. He was the great-grandfather of the 1st Earl of Harrington.