Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby
(1865-1948), Politician, Secretary of State for War and British Ambassador to France, racehorse owner and soldierSitter in 41 portraits
Lord Stanley served as private secretary to Lord Roberts during the Second Boer War, 1900. Appointed Director of Recruiting in World War One, his schemes paved the way for conscription. He was promoted to Secretary of State for War, 1916, and several times offered his resignation in support of Field Marshal Robertson, Chief of the Imperial General Staff. He was Ambassador to France 1918-20. In later life, he focused on re-establishing his family's place in the world of horseracing. Having developed the largest stable at Newmarket, his horses won the Derby in 1924 and 1933.
Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
Related People
- Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby (grandfather)
- Emma Caroline Stanley (née Bootle-Wilbraham), Countess of Derby (grandmother)
- Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby (uncle)
- Frederick Arthur Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby (father)
- Constance (née Villiers), Countess of Derby (mother)
- Alice Maud Olivia (née Montagu), Countess of Derby (wife)
- Edward John Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby (grandson)
- Lady Isobel Constance Mary Gathorne-Hardy (née Stanley) (sister)
- Edward Montagu Cavendish Stanley, Lord Stanley (son)
- Hon. Algernon Francis Stanley (brother)
- Sir Arthur Stanley (brother)
- Ferdinand Charles Stanley (brother)
- Hon. Frederick William Stanley (brother)
- Sir George Frederick Stanley (brother)
- Oliver Frederick George Stanley (son)
- Richard Oliver Stanley (grandson)
- Sir Victor Albert Stanley (brother)
- Lady Emma Charlotte Talbot (née Stanley) (aunt)
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