(1677 - 1705), 1st surv. s. of 7th E. of Huntingdon by his 1st wife; sty. Ld. Hastings - 1701 when suc. fa. as 8th E.; Wadham Oxf. 1693; army officer, col. 33 Ft. 1702; unm.
1700 - 1 [Malta] Rome (by Dec. 1700 - ), Padua (24 Mar. 1701) [London Jun.]
1703 - 4 [Vienna] Venice (Jul. 1703), Florence (Oct. 1703), Lucca, Rome (13 Jan. - 18 Apr. 1704), Leghorn (29 Apr.), Genoa, Turin (by 31 May - Sep.)
'Known and admired for his learning and politeness and bravery, but with an alloy of vices which derogated very much from his character' (CP), he was first in Italy as Lord Hastings in 1700 - 1. In December 1700 he was in Rome, staying some weeks, having come from Malta;1 he was in Padua in March 1701,2 and had returned to London by June when he succeeded as 8th Earl of Huntingdon.
After serving under Marlborough he 'quitted his regiment', wrote the Duke of Shrewsbury, 'I know not, whether from any disgust, or the inconstancy of his own temper',3 and came again to Italy. On 14 July 1703 he was said to be talking of going to Venice 'next week',4 and while there he was at one stage procuring catamites.5 Late in October he passed through Florence on his way to Lucca 'where he designs staying some time',6 but he had arrived in Rome on 13 January 1704.7 He was still there on 13 February, playing whisk all day with the Duke of Shrewsbury, and Lords Quarendon and Cardigan.7 He left on 18 April 'in order to go to Leghorn and Genoa, and thence to Turin, where he designs to make a considerable stay, if he does not alter his mind'.3 He was in Leghorn on 29 April,8 and by 31 May had arrived in Turin9 where he stayed until after September.(10)
1. HMC Bath, 3:432. 2. Brown 1134. 3. Dip. Corr.of Sir Rd. Hill, 2:737 (19 Apr. 1704). 4. HMC Buccleuch (Montagu Ho.), 2ii:664. 5. Note of corr. between Huntingdon and Jas.Stanhope in 1702. 6. SP 98/20 (Blackwell, 27 Oct. 1703). 7. Shrewsburyj Jnl. 8. SP 98/20 (Blackwell, 29 Apr. 1704). 9. Dip. Corr.of Sir Rd. Hill, 2:740. 10. G. Hastings Wheeler ed., Hastings Wheeler Family Letters 1693 - 1704, 1:62 - 3.