He was born the honourable Charles Hope, son of John Hope, 2nd Earl of Hopetoun by his third wife, Lady Elizabeth Leslie, daughter of Alexander Leslie, 5th Earl of Leven. Hope was raised alongside his many siblings at Hopetoun House.

Hope's younger full brother was Sir Alexander Hope.

He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Dysart Burghs from 1790 to 1796.^[1]

On 12 May 1800, he was elected as MP for Haddingtonshire. He resigned from Parliament on 21 March 1816,^[2] accepting the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds.

Hope married Lady Louisa Anne Finch-Hatton on 30 April 1807, she was the eldest daughter of George Finch-Hatton and Lady Elizabeth Murray. Her brother was George Finch-Hatton, 10th Earl of Winchilsea. They had one daughter named Elisabeth Louisa Hope (1810-1868).^[3]

Charles Hope died on 1 July 1828. Afterwards His widow Lady Hope and their daughter Elisabeth travelled to Switzerland and settled there in 1834. They were the one who created the magnificent estate called Soressex, and in 1837, when Elisabeth Hope became the owner, there were only meadows, vines and a forest of chestnut trees. As they were wealthy, they built a two-storey mansion and below it a large glazed and heated greenhouse, housing orange trees, camellias and other exotic plants, the park (later called Szilassy Park) was landscaped in British style.^[4]

Elisabeth Hope would go on to marry her coachman Louis Billard, they have no children but adopt a young woman from Yverdon by the name of Laure Correvon. Laura in turn fell in love and married Jules de Szilassy, an aristocrat of Hungarian origin who had come to Switzerland to have his eyes treated. Jules de Szilassy was particularly generous with the commune of Bex, creating a foundation for the benefit of the poor. They have 8 children, their eldest son born in 1870 was named Baron Julius Hope von Szilassy.^[5][4]

Lady Louisa Hope died on 1 March 1875 outliving her husband and daughter. Szilassy Park later was donated to the state by Szilassy descendants.