47-413: A sofa is a piece of furniture, also called a couch. Sofa or SOFA may refer to: Sofa A couch , also known as a sofa , settee , chesterfield , or davenport , is a cushioned item of furniture that can seat multiple people. It is commonly found in the form of a bench with upholstered armrests and is often fitted with springs and tailored cushion and pillows . Although
94-628: A courtier to the King, through the mentorship of his relative, James Stanhope (later 1st Earl Stanhope), the King's favourite minister, who procured his appointment as Lord of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales . In 1715, Stanhope entered the House of Commons as Lord Stanhope of Shelford and as member for St Germans . Later, when the impeachment of James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde came before
141-427: A "sectional", is formed from multiple sections (typically two, three, or four) and usually includes at least two pieces which join at an angle of 90 degrees or slightly greater. Sectional sofas are used to wrap around walls or other furniture. Other variants include the divan , the fainting couch (backless or partial-backed) and the canapé (an ornamental three-seater). To conserve space, some sofas double as beds in
188-589: A French governess, gave birth to his illegitimate son, Philip for whom Chesterfield wrote the Letters to his Son giving advice on life. In 1731, while at The Hague, Chesterfield initiated the Grand Duke of Tuscany (later to become Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor ) from the House of Habsburg-Lorraine into Freemasonry , which was at the time being used as an intelligence network by the British Whigs. By
235-440: A couch is used primarily for seating , it may be used for sleeping . In homes, couches are normally put in the family room, living room , den, or lounge. They are sometimes also found in non-residential settings such as hotels , lobbies of commercial offices, waiting rooms , and bars . Couches can also vary in size, color, and design. The term couch originally denoted an item of furniture for lying or sleeping on. Couch
282-513: A descendant of the 1st Earl of Chesterfield, as his heir and successor to the title of Earl of Chesterfield. Chesterfield died on 24 March 1773, at Chesterfield House, Westminster , his London townhouse . His godson and adopted heir then became Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl of Chesterfield. Decades after his death, Lord Chesterfield appears as a character in William Makepeace Thackeray 's novel The Virginians (1857). He
329-418: A hold over the King through the influence of Lady Yarmouth , by then George II's mistress, but John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich and Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle , combined forces against him, and in 1748, he resigned the ministerial seal and returned to his books and playing cards with the admirable composure that was one of his most striking characteristics. Despite his denials, Chesterfield
376-639: A letter to his friend, the Duke of Newcastle , Chesterfield noted the absurdity of the Stamp Act because it could not be properly enforced, but if made effective, the Act would anyway generate a revenue no greater than £8,000 per year, but the annual cost of reduced trade from the American colonies would be about £1,000,000. Eugenia Stanhope, the impoverished widow of Chesterfield's illegitimate son, Philip Stanhope ,
423-515: A mark of her appreciation. In 1744, the King was compelled to abandon Lord Carteret , the successor to Walpole, and the coalition for a "Broad Bottom" party , led by Chesterfield and Pitt , came into office in coalition with the Pelhams . In the troubled state of European politics, the Earl's calm conduct and diplomatic experience were more useful abroad than at home, and he was sent to The Hague for
470-629: A result, Irish Jacobites did not assist the Jacobite rising of 1745 . Anecdotally, upon being roused for a false alarm of an Irish rebellion and being told that "the papists in Ireland are all up!", he replied: "I am not surprised at it, why, it is ten o'clock, I should have been up too, had I not overslept myself". In 1746, however, he had to exchange the Lord-Lieutenancy for the post of Secretary of State . Chesterfield had hoped to retain
517-754: A reward for his diplomatic service, Chesterfield received the Order of the Garter in 1730, the position of Lord Steward , and the friendship of Robert Walpole , the de facto head of the government. While a British envoy in the Hague, he helped negotiate the second Treaty of Vienna (1731) , which signalled the collapse of the Anglo-French Alliance, and the beginning of the Anglo-Austrian Alliance . In 1732, Madelina Elizabeth du Bouchet,
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#1732771987888564-650: A second time as ambassador. The object of his mission this time was to persuade the Dutch to join in the War of the Austrian Succession and to arrange the details of their assistance. Success was quickly achieved, and on his return a few weeks afterwards, he received the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland , which he had long coveted. Chesterfield's short administration (January 1745 – November 1746) in Ireland
611-650: A sofa, with arms and back of the same height. In Canada, chesterfield used to be the predominant term for any type of couch, but has been decreasing in popularity among the younger generations. Vincent La Chapelle , a French master cook, wrote The Modern Cook while in the employ of Lord Chesterfield, and lived abroad with him in The Hague. After leaving Chesterfield's service, La Chapelle went on to cook for – among others – William IV, Prince of Orange , John V of Portugal , and Madame de Pompadour (mistress of Louis XV of France ). Chesterfield coats , popularized by
658-508: Is also a Chesterfield Road in the West Oakland neighbourhood of Pittsburgh filled with rowhouses , formerly known for its punk subculture . The first leather Chesterfield sofa , with its distinctive deep-buttoned, quilted leather upholstery and lower seat base, is believed to have been commissioned by Lord Chesterfield. Consequently, in the UK, the word chesterfield now describes such
705-558: Is also mentioned in Charles Dickens ' novel Barnaby Rudge (1841), wherein the foppish Sir John Chester says that Lord Chesterfield is the finest English writer: In the UK, Chesterfield gave his name to Chesterfield Street , Mayfair , London, which runs from Curzon Street , site of the former Chesterfield House; in the US, his name has been given to Chesterfield County, Virginia , and Chesterfield County, South Carolina . There
752-645: Is derived from the Arabic word suffah ("ledge/bench"), cognates with the Aramaic word sippa (" mat "). Nathan Bailey in his Dictionarium Britannicum (1730) defines sofa as a "a sort of alcove much used in Asia ... furnished with rich carpets and cushions." The word settee or setee comes from the Old English word setl , which was used to describe long benches with high backs and arms, but
799-480: Is nothing that people bear more impatiently, or forgive less, than contempt; and an injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult. If, therefore, you would rather please than offend, rather be well than ill spoken of, rather be loved than hated; remember to have that constant attention about you which flatters every man's little vanity; and the want of which, by mortifying his pride, never fails to excite his resentment, or at least his ill will.... Samuel Johnson said of
846-419: Is now generally used to describe small upholstered seating structures. Both "sofa" and "settee" terms came into use in the beginning of the 18th century. Originally the settee defined a smaller sofa, but by the 20th century the distinction was lost. Other terms which can be synonymous with the above definition are divan , davenport , lounge , and canapé . In Canadian English , the word chesterfield
893-702: Is predominantly used in North America , Australia , South Africa , and Ireland , whereas the terms sofa and settee ( U and non-U ) are most commonly used in the United Kingdom and India . The word couch originated in Middle English from the Old French noun couche , which derived from the verb meaning "to lie down". The word sofa comes from the Turkish language and
940-532: Is speculated to have at least helped to write "Apology for a late Resignation", in a Letter from an English Gentleman to his Friend at The Hague , which ran to four editions in 1748. While continuing to attend and participate in the Upper House's proceedings, Chesterfield turned down the dukedom offered to him by George II, whose wrath had melted in the face of Chesterfield's diplomacy and rhetoric. In 1751, seconded by George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield ,
987-508: Is used to describe any couch or sofa, particularly among older Canadians. According to a 1992 survey conducted in the Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario , the term is quickly vanishing. The most common types of couches include the two-seater, sometimes referred to as a loveseat, and the sofa. The loveseat is designed for seating two people, while the sofa has more than two cushion seats. A sectional sofa, often just referred to as
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#17327719878881034-491: The Letter to Chesterfield , which dealt with the dynamics of the patron–artist relationship. Chesterfield was not offended by the letter but, rather, was impressed by its language. After receiving it, he displayed it on a table for visitors to read and, according to Robert Dodsley , said "This man has great powers" and then he "pointed out the severest passages, and observed how well they were expressed". Adams told Johnson what
1081-577: The House of Lords . His inclination towards oration, often seen as ineffective in the House of Commons because of its polish and lack of force, was met with appreciation in the House of Lords, and won many to his side. In 1727 the Prince of Wales succeeded his father, becoming King George II. In 1728, in service to the new king, Chesterfield was sent to the Hague as ambassador to The Netherlands , where his gentle tact and linguistic dexterity served him well. As
1128-565: The Letters to his Son . However, Lord Chesterfield bequeathed an annuity of £100 to each of his grandsons, Charles Stanhope (1761–1845) and Philip Stanhope (1763–1801), and a further £10,000 for them both, but left no pension for Eugenia. It was that lack of funds that led her to sell the Letters to his Son to a publisher. Left without a legitimate heir to his lands and property (he and his wife had no children together) Lord Chesterfield acted to protect his hereditary interests by adopting his distant cousin and godson, Philip Stanhope (1755–1815),
1175-559: The Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774) and Letters to His Godson (1890), books of private correspondence and paternal and avuncular advice that he never intended for publication. In 1768 Chesterfield's illegitimate son, Philip Stanhope, died in France of dropsy , leaving his widow Eugenia Stanhope and their two illegitimate sons, Charles and Philip. Despite his short life,
1222-561: The Continent. While in Paris, he sent the government valuable information about the developing Jacobite plot. In 1716, he returned to Britain, resumed his Commons seat and became known as a skilled yet tactful debater. When George I quarrelled with the Prince of Wales the same year, Lord Stanhope remained politically faithful to the Prince but was careful not to break with the King's party. However, his continued friendly correspondence with
1269-540: The Gregorian calendar. Informally, the Act was also known as the "Chesterfield's Act". After this, he gradually started to withdraw from politics and society because of his growing deafness. In 1755, he and Samuel Johnson had a dispute over A Dictionary of the English Language . Eight years previously, Johnson had sent Chesterfield an outline of his Dictionary , along with a business offer for promoting
1316-425: The House, he used the occasion (5 August 1715) to try out the result of his rhetorical studies. His maiden speech was fluent and dogmatic, but upon its conclusion, another member, after first complimenting the speech, reminded the young orator that he was still six weeks short of his age of majority and consequently liable to a fine of £500 for speaking in the House. Lord Stanhope left with a low bow, and set out for
1363-558: The Prince's mistress, Henrietta Howard , earned Chesterfield the personal hatred of the Prince's wife, Princess Caroline of Ansbach . In 1723, he was appointed Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners . In January 1725, on the revival of the Order of the Bath , the red ribbon was offered to him, but Stanhope declined the honour. Upon his father's death in 1726, Stanhope became the 4th Earl of Chesterfield and assumed his seat in
1410-536: The Younger , Fontenelle and Montesquieu . In 1742, Walpole's fall from political power was complete, but although he and his administration had been overthrown in no small part by Chesterfield's efforts, the new ministry did not count Chesterfield either in its ranks or among its supporters. He remained in opposition and distinguished himself by the courtly bitterness of his attacks on George II, who began to hate him violently. In 1743, Chesterfield began writing under
1457-807: The bill and abandoned the measure, Chesterfield was summarily dismissed from his stewardship. For the next two years, he led the opposition in the Upper House to effect Walpole's downfall. During that time, he resided in Grosvenor Square and became involved in the creation of a new charity called the Foundling Hospital of which he was a founding governor. In 1741, Chesterfield signed the protest calling for Walpole's dismissal and then went abroad on account of his health; after visiting Voltaire in Brussels, he went to Paris where he associated with writers and men of letters , including Crebillon
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1504-544: The courtesy title of Lord Stanhope until the death of his father in 1726. Following the death of his mother in 1708, Stanhope was raised mainly by his grandmother, the Marchioness of Halifax. Educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge , he left just over a year into his studies, after focusing on languages and oration . He subsequently embarked on the Grand Tour , to complete his education as a nobleman , by exposure to
1551-529: The cultural legacies of Classical antiquity and the Renaissance , and to become acquainted with his aristocratic counterparts and the polite society of Continental Europe . In the course of his tour, the death of Queen Anne and accession of King George I in 1714 opened a political career for Stanhope, and he quickly returned to England. A supporter of the Whig party, he entered government service as
1598-474: The end of 1732, ill health and financial troubles caused Chesterfield's return to Britain and his resignation as ambassador. In 1733, Chesterfield married Melusina von der Schulenberg , the Countess of Walsingham, who was the illegitimate daughter of Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal by George I. After recuperating from his illness, Chesterfield resumed his seat in the House of Lords, where he
1645-496: The form of sofa beds , daybeds , or futons . A furniture set consisting of a sofa with two matching chairs is known as a "chesterfield suite" or "living-room suite". In the UK, the word chesterfield was used to refer to any couch in the 1900s. A chesterfield now describes a deep buttoned sofa, usually made from leather, with arms and back of the same height. The first chesterfield, with its distinctive deep buttoned, quilted (or "tufted" ) leather upholstery and lower seat base,
1692-483: The languages. As a handbook for worldly success in the 18th century, the Letters to His Son give perceptive and nuanced advice for how a gentleman should interpret the social codes of etiquette and good manners: ... However frivolous a company may be, still, while you are among them, do not show them, by your inattention, that you think them so; but rather take their tone, and conform in some degree to their weakness, instead of manifesting your contempt for them. There
1739-436: The letters that "they teach the morals of a whore, and the manners of a dancing-master" as a means for getting on in the world, implying that Chesterfield promoted good manners as a method of advancement rather than because of their inherent moral value. Despite having been an accomplished essayist and epigrammatist in his time, Lord Chesterfield's literary reputation today derives almost entirely from Letters to His Son on
1786-573: The name of "Jeffrey Broadbottom" for pamphlets and a new journal, Old England; or, the Constitutional Journal , which appeared ( broad bottom being a term for a government with cross-party appeal). A number of pamphlets, with which Chesterfield had the help of Edmund Waller , followed. His energetic campaign against the King and his government won the gratitude of the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough , who left him £20,000 as
1833-483: The padding for more support, although some don't. Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield , KG , PC (22 September 1694 – 24 March 1773) was a British statesman, diplomat, man of letters, and an acclaimed wit of his time. He was born in London to Philip Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Chesterfield , and Lady Elizabeth Savile , and known by
1880-659: The president of the Royal Society , and the mathematician James Bradley , Chesterfield greatly distinguished himself in the debates on establishing a definitive calendar for Britain and the Commonwealth. With the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 , he successfully established the Gregorian calendar and a calendar year that began on 1 January for Great Britain, which had lagged behind other European countries in adopting
1927-411: The privileged education provided by his father had enabled for Philip a career in the diplomatic service, despite being handicapped as a nobleman's illegitimate son. The grieving Chesterfield was disappointed to learn of Philip's long and mostly secret relationship (they married the year before his death) with Eugenia, a woman of a humble social class, since that was a topic that he had covered at length in
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1974-485: The proposed work; Chesterfield agreed and invested £10. Although Chesterfield wrote two anonymous articles for World magazine shortly before the dictionary's publication praising both Johnson's exhaustive editorial work and the dictionary itself, Johnson was disappointed at the lack of interest in the project from Chesterfield during compilation of the dictionary. Upset with what he saw as a lack of support from an avowed man of letters and patron of literature, Johnson wrote
2021-425: Was commissioned by Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773). A couch consists of a frame, springs, padding, and a covering. The frame is usually made of wood, but can also be made of steel, plastic or laminated boards. Sofa padding is made from foam, down, feathers, fabric or a combination thereof. Sofa coverings are usually made out of soft leather, corduroy or linen. Couches commonly have springs under
2068-596: Was effective, as he repressed the corruption traditional to the office, and established schools and factories. He was the first official to allow Dubliners to roam in Phoenix Park , and installed the central "Phoenix Monument", a phoenix bird on a Corinthian column (the 2.8 mi main road through the park is still known as Chesterfield Avenue). He worked with, and pacified, both the Protestant Orange Order and Roman Catholic Jacobite factions; as
2115-537: Was now one of the acknowledged leaders. He supported the ministry and leadership of Robert Walpole, but withheld the blind fealty that Walpole preferred of his followers. Lord Chesterfield strongly opposed the Excise Bill , the Whig Party leader's measure, in the House of Lords, and his brothers also argued against it in the House of Commons. Even though Walpole eventually succumbed to the political opposition to
2162-486: Was said, and Johnson responded, "That is not Lord Chesterfield; he is the proudest man this day". Adams responded, "No, there is one person at least as proud; I think, by your own account, you are the prouder man of the two". Johnson, finishing, said, "But mine, was defensive pride". In the 1760s, Chesterfield offered a cogent critique of the Stamp Act 1765 passed through Parliament by George Grenville 's ministry. In
2209-553: Was the first to publish the book Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774), which comprises a thirty-year correspondence in more than 400 letters. Begun in 1737 and continued until the death of his son in 1768, Chesterfield wrote mostly instructive communications about geography, history, and classical literature , with later letters focusing on politics and diplomacy. The letters were written in French, English and Latin to refine his son's grasp of
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