His father, John Hope, purchased the barony of Niddry Castle from George Seton, 4th Earl of Winton around 1680.
He also bought the neighbouring barony of Abercorn, with the office of heritable sheriff of the County of Linlithgow, from Sir Walter Seton.
[2] The tradition continues that in recognition of this act, Charles was created Earl of Hopetoun in the Peerage of Scotland by Queen Anne on 15 April 1703, shortly after reaching his majority.
[2] The family estates and businesses, including lead mining, were managed on his behalf by his mother, Lady Margaret Hope of Hopetoun.
Their children include:[7] Lord Hopetoun died on 26 February 1742 and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son, John.