In 1703 he was created Lord Hope, Viscount Aithrie and Earl of Hopetoun in the Peerage of Scotland, with remainder to the heirs male and female of his body.

Lord Hopetoun married Lady Henrietta, only surviving daughter of William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale (died 1721).

In 1792 Lord Hopetoun succeeded his great-uncle as de jure fifth Earl of Annandale and Hartfell, although he never successfully claimed this title.

[2] He died without male issue and the claim the earldom passed to his daughter Lady Anne (see below and the Earl of Annandale and Hartfell for later history of this branch of the family).

He was a prominent colonial administrator and Conservative politician and served as Governor of Victoria, as the first Governor-General of Australia and as Secretary of State for Scotland.

The heir apparent is the present holder's eldest son, Andrew Christopher Victor Arthur Charles Hope, Earl of Hopetoun (born 1969).

[5] There are further male heirs in line to the earldom of Hopetoun and its subsidiary titles, who are descended from the younger sons of the 4th, 2nd and 1st earls.

He married his second cousin Lady Anne Hope-Johnston, de jure 6th Countess of Annandale and Hartfell, daughter of the third Earl.

Their eldest son John James Hope Johnstone (1796–1876) twice unsuccessfully claimed the earldom of Annandale and Hartfell.

Charles Hope (1768–1828), eldest son of the second Earl from his third marriage to Lady Elizabeth Leslie, was a general in the army.

Sir Alexander Hope (1769–1837), fourth son of the second Earl (and second from his third marriage to Lady Elizabeth Leslie), was a general in the army and represented Linlithgowshire in the House of Commons.

Lord John Hope, younger twin son of the second Marquess, was a prominent Conservative politician and was created Baron Glendevon in 1964.