He was the son of George Charles Stanhope and Jane Galbraith.
[1] In 1841 George Philip Stanhope, 8th Earl of Chesterfield gained the rank of ensign in the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot and was promoted lieutenant in April 1842.
His only child was Philip Laurence John Stanhope (8 December 1857 – 1 September 1860).
[1] George Stanhope, 8th Earl of Chesterfield, died on 19 October 1883, aged 60, at Killendarragh, Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland, without surviving issue.
[1] He was succeeded to the title Earl of Chesterfield by Henry Scudamore-Stanhope, his fourth cousin once removed.