Henrietta Thynne

Henrietta Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield, born Lady Henrietta Thynne on 17 November 1762, was a member of the British aristocracy. She was the third daughter of Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath, and Lady Elizabeth Cavendish-Bentinck. Her siblings included Louisa, who became Countess of Aylesford, and Sophia, who was known as Countess of Ashburnham.

During her childhood, Henrietta experienced a serious illness, which was documented in correspondence by Mary Granville in 1770. The letter noted that Henrietta, referred to as Miss H. Thynne, had undergone treatments such as bloodletting and blistering and was believed to be improving at that time.

On 2 May 1799, Henrietta married Philip Stanhope, the 5th Earl of Chesterfield. Their marriage took place in Grosvenor Street, London. Philip Stanhope's first wife, Anne, died in 1798, and from that marriage, he had a daughter, Lady Harriet Stanhope, who died unmarried in 1803.

Henrietta and the Earl of Chesterfield resided at Bretby Hall in Derbyshire, which was rebuilt around 1812 by the Earl. The countess and her husband had two children: Lady Georgiana Stanhope, who died in 1824 and married Frederick Richard West, a grandson of John West, 2nd Earl De La Warr; and George Stanhope, who became the 6th Earl of Chesterfield (1805–1866). Their son George married Hon. Anne Elizabeth Weld-Forester, the daughter of Cecil Weld-Forester, 1st Baron Forester, and Lady Katherine Manners, a daughter of the 4th Duke of Rutland.

From 1807 until her death in 1813, Henrietta served as a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Charlotte (Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz), consort of King George III. She died at Chesterfield House in Mayfair on 31 May 1813 at the age of 50, although contemporary notices suggest she was 52. Her death occurred during her lifetime, leaving her husband to survive her by two years; he died shortly thereafter at age 59. Their son, George Stanhope, succeeded as the 6th Earl of Chesterfield.