View source for Earl of Derby

{{Short description|Title in the Peerage of England}}
{{Redirect|Lord Stanley|the Barons Stanley of Alderley|Baron Stanley of Alderley}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox hereditary title
| name              = Earl of Derby 
| image             = [[File:Coat of arms of Stanley, Earls of Derby.svg|220px]] 
| image_size        =  
| alt               =  
| caption           = [[coat of arms|Arms]] of Stanley, Earls of Derby<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''[[Blazon]]'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
'''''Arms:''' Argent, on a bend azure three stags' heads caboshed or. '''Crest:''' On a chapeau gules turned up ermine an eagle, wings extended, or, preying on an infant in its cradle proper, swaddled gules, the cradle laced or. '''Supporters:''' Dexter, a griffin, wings elevated; sinister, a stag, each or, and ducally collared with line reflexed over the back azure. '''Motto:''' Sans changer (Without changing).''
</div>
</div>
| creation_date     = 1139 <small>(first creation)</small> 
| creation          =  
| monarch           = [[Stephen, King of England]] 
| peerage           = [[Peerage of England]] 
| baronetage        =  
| first_holder      = [[Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby]] <small>(first creation)</small> 
| last_holder       =  
| present_holder    = [[Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby]] 
| heir_apparent     = Edward John Robin Stanley, Lord Stanley 
| heir_presumptive  =  
| remainder_to      =  
| subsidiary_titles = Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe<br />Baron Stanley of Preston
| status            =  
| extinction_date   =  
| family_seat       = [[Knowsley Hall]] 
| former_seat       =  [[Oaks Park (London)|Oaks Park]]
| motto             = ''Sans changer'' (Without changing)<ref>''Debrett's Peerage'', 1968, p.344</ref> 
| footnotes         =  
}}
'''Earl of Derby''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-derby.ogg|ˈ|d|ɑːr|b|i}} {{respell|DAR|bee}}) is a title in the [[Peerage of England]]. The title was first adopted by [[Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby]], under a creation of 1139. It continued with the Ferrers family until the [[Robert de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby|6th Earl]] forfeited his property toward the end of the reign of [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] and died in 1279. Most of the Ferrers property and (by a creation in 1337) the Derby title were then held by the family of Henry III. The title [[merged in the Crown]] upon [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]]'s accession to the throne in 1399.

The title was created again, this time for the [[Stanley family]], in 1485. Lord Derby's [[subsidiary title]]s are '''Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe''' in the [[County Palatine]] of Lancaster (created 1832), and '''Baron Stanley of Preston''' in the County Palatine of Lancaster (1886). The [[courtesy title]] of the heir apparent is '''Lord Stanley'''. The 1st to 5th Earls also held an earlier [[Baron Stanley|Barony of Stanley]], created for the 1st Earl's father in 1456 and currently abeyant; the 2nd to 5th Earls held the [[Baron Strange|Barony of Strange]] created in 1299, currently held by the [[Viscount St Davids|Viscounts St Davids]]; and the 7th to 9th Earls held another Barony of Strange, created in error in 1628 and currently held independently of other peerages.

Several successive generations of the Stanley Earls, along with other members of the family, have been prominent members of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], and at least one historian has suggested that this family rivals the [[Marquess of Salisbury|Cecils (Marquesses of Salisbury)]] as the single most important family in the party's history. They were at times one of the richest landowning families in England.<!--top ten I believe, based on the Victorian landownership survey by a man whose name escapes me right now-->

The Earls of Derby have given their name to a number of sporting events: the [[Epsom Derby]] (usually known simply as the Derby) in horse racing, named for the [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby|12th Earl]]; the [[Stanley Cup]], the championship trophy of the [[National Hockey League]], presented to the Dominion of Canada in 1892 by the [[Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby|16th Earl]], during his tenure as [[Governor General of Canada]]; and the [[Coupe de France Lord Derby|Lord Derby Cup]], contested by French [[rugby league]] clubs, donated by the [[Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby|17th Earl]], a former British ambassador to Paris. The term "local derby" in sport, referring to a [[List of sports rivalries|contest between rivals in the same sport with geographically proximate home grounds]], may also derive from the family's title and interest in sport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/10/wigan-st-helens-local-products-super-league-grand-final-|title=Wigan and St Helens grow own products for Super League Grand Final|first=Andy|last=Wilson|date=10 October 2014|work=The Guardian}}</ref>

The family seat is [[Knowsley Hall]], near [[Liverpool]], [[Merseyside]].

==The Ferrers creation==
[[Ferrières-Saint-Hilaire|Ferrières]] in [[Normandy]], the hometown of the de Ferrers family, was an important centre for iron ({{langx|fr|fer}}) and takes its name from the [[iron ore]] mines used during the [[Gallo-Roman period]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Le Tour de Ferrières – Normandy Tourism, France|url=http://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/iti/le-tour-de-ferrieres/ferrieres-saint-hilaire/fiche-ITINOR027V506ORR-2.html?iDD=13|access-date=16 January 2017|publisher=Normandie Tourisme}}</ref> Lord of [[Longueville, Calvados|Longueville]], [[Normandy]], and a [[Domesday Book|Domesday]] Commissioner; he built [[Tutbury Castle]] and [[Duffield Castle, Derbyshire|Duffield Castle]] and had large holdings in Derbyshire as well as 17 other counties. {{citation needed|reason=The Ferrers, lords of the barony of Ferrières in Normandy, were accompanied to England by three other families who were their underlords in France: the Curzons (Notre Dame-de-Courson), the Baskervilles (Boscherville) and the [[Levett]]s (Livet-en-Ouche).|date=September 2020}}

[[Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby]] (1062–1139) was created Earl of Derby by King Stephen in 1138 for his valiant conduct at the [[Battle of Northallerton]]. He was married to Hawise de Vitre and died in 1139.

His son [[Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby]] (?–bef.1160) became the next earl and was married to [[Margaret Peverel]]. He founded [[Darley Abbey]] and [[Merevale#Merevale Abbey|Merevale Abbey]].

His son [[William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby]] (died 1190) was married to Sybil de Braose. He rebelled against King [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] and was imprisoned at [[Caen]], [[Normandy]]. He died in the [[Crusade]]s at the [[Siege of Acre (1189–1191)|Siege of Acre]].

He was succeeded by his son [[William de Ferrers, 4th Earl of Derby]] (died 1247) who married Agnes de Kevelioc (also known as Agnes of Chester), daughter of [[Hugh de Kevelioc, 3rd Earl of Chester]].

He was succeeded by his son [[William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby]] (died 1254) who married Sibyl Marshall and then Margaret de Quincy with whom he had his son and heir [[Robert de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby]] (1239–1279), who became the next Earl.

He rebelled against King [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] and was arrested and imprisoned first in the [[Tower of London]], then in [[Windsor Castle]] and [[Wallingford Castle]], and in 1266 his lands and earldom were forfeited, including Tutbury Castle which still belongs to the [[Duchy of Lancaster]]. Through one line the descent of the Earls of Derby eventually gave rise to the [[Earl Ferrers|Earls Ferrers]]. [[Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers]], was the only [[peer of the realm]] to be [[hanged]] for murder. Another familial line takes in the [[Baron Ferrers of Chartley]] descent.

NOTE HOWEVER:
This lineage conflicts with Burke (1831) (pp. 192–194)<ref>{{cite book|title=A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerages of England, Ireland, and Scotland, Extinct, Dormant, and in Abeyance| date=1831 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=EegJhmOdM6EC&pg=PP9 |access-date=10 January 2024|publisher=Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley}}</ref>

In that volume he gives the lineage as:
*Robert de Ferrers - created 1st Earl after the Battle of the Standard.
*Robert de Ferrers - 2nd Earl.
*William de Ferrers - 3rd Earl who married Margaret, d. and heiress of William Peverel, of Nottingham.
*Robert de Ferrers - 4th Earl who married Sybilla, daughter of William de Braose. It was Robert who rebelled against Henry II.
*William de Ferrers - 5th Earl who accompanied Richard I on Crusade and died at the siege of Acre.
*William de Ferrers - 6th Earl who was closely associated with William Marshall (Earl of Pembroke); and then his son -
*William de Ferrers - 7th Earl who had livery of Chartley Castle and married the d. of William Marshall with whom he had seven daughters.

== Creation of Edward III ==
The large estates which were taken from Robert in 1266 were given by [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] to his son, [[Edmund Crouchback]]; and his son, [[Thomas, Earl of Lancaster]], also called himself Earl Ferrers. In 1337 Edmund's grandson, [[Henry of Grosmont]] ({{Circa|1310}} – 1361), afterwards [[Duke of Lancaster]], was created Earl of Derby, and this title was taken by Edward III's son, [[John of Gaunt]], who had married Henry's daughter, Blanche. John of Gaunt's son and successor was [[Henry IV of England|Henry Bolingbroke]], who acceded to the throne as [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]] in 1399. The title Earl of Derby then [[merged in the Crown]].

== The Stanley creation ==
[[Image:Thomas-Stanley-1st-Earl-of-Derby.jpg|thumb|225px|[[Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby|Thomas Stanley]], 1st Earl of Derby]]

The [[Stanley family]] was descended from Ligulf of Aldithley, who was also the ancestor of the Audleys (see [[Stanley family|Audley-Stanley family]]). One of his descendants married an heiress whose marriage portion included [[Stanley, Staffordshire|Stoneley, Staffordshire]] – hence the name Stanley. [[Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley|Sir Thomas Stanley]] served as [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland]] and represented [[Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)|Lancashire]] in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]]. In 1456 he was [[Hereditary peer#Writs of summons|summoned]] to the [[House of Lords]] as '''Lord Stanley'''. His eldest son [[Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby|Thomas Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley]], married [[Lady Margaret Beaufort]], the mother of King [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]], and also Eleanor Nevill. The title of '''Earl of Derby''' was conferred on him in 1485 by his stepson Henry VII after the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]] where Thomas decided to betray King [[Richard III of England|Richard III]]. The title may derive from the family's extensive lands in the [[West Derby (hundred)|hundred of West Derby]], [[Lancashire]], rather than the county or city of [[Derby]].<ref>Stanley, Peter Edward, ''The House of Stanley: The History of an English Family from the 12th Century'' (Pentland Press, 1998), p. 139</ref>

His eldest son and heir apparent [[George Stanley, 9th Baron Strange|George Stanley]], [[Lord Stanley]] (commonly called Lord Strange), married [[Joan le Strange, 9th Baroness Strange|Joan Strange, 9th Baroness Strange]] and 5th [[Baron Mohun|Baroness Mohun]], and was summoned to the [[House of Lords]] as Lord Strange in right of his wife. Lord Derby was succeeded by his grandson [[Thomas Stanley, 2nd Earl of Derby|Thomas]], the eldest son of Lord Strange. He had already succeeded his mother as tenth Baron Strange and sixth Baron Mohun. He married Anne Hastings, daughter of Lord Hungerford and Hastings. The second Earl's son [[Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby|Edward]] became the 3rd Earl. He notably served as [[Lord High Steward]] at the coronation of [[Mary I of England|Queen Mary of England]] in 1553 and was [[Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire]] and [[Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire|Lancashire]].

Lord Derby was married four times. His second wife Dorothy Howard, daughter of [[Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk]], supplied his heir [[Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby|Henry]], the fourth Earl. He served as Ambassador to [[France]] and was one of the peers at the trial of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]], in 1586. Lord Derby married Margaret Clifford, daughter of [[Henry Clifford, 2nd Earl of Cumberland]], and his wife Eleanor, younger daughter of [[Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk]], and his wife [[Mary Tudor (queen consort of France)|Mary Tudor]], daughter of King Henry VII. Both Lord Derby's sons succeeded to the earldom. The eldest son [[Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby|Ferdinando]], the fifth Earl, was summoned to the House of Lords through a [[writ of acceleration]] in his father's junior title of Baron Strange in 1589. He also built [[Leasowe Castle]], probably as an observation platform for watching horse races on the nearby sands. Lord Derby married Alice Spencer but was without male issue. He died under mysterious circumstances and some have claimed that he was poisoned to prevent him from staking a claim to the throne of England through his maternal grandmother. On his death, the baronies of Stanley, Strange and Mohun fell into [[abeyance]] between his three daughters.

[[File:7thEarlOfDerby.jpg|left|thumb|James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby. Remembered in the [[Isle of Man]] as: '''Yn Stanlagh Mooar''' (''the Great Stanley'').]]

He was succeeded in the earldom by his younger brother [[William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby|William]], the sixth Earl. He was Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire and Cheshire and purchased from his nieces their claims in the [[Isle of Man]]. William married Elizabeth de Vere daughter of [[Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford]]. Their son [[James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby|James]] succeeded to the earldom on his father's death. In 1628, during his father's lifetime, he was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration as Lord Strange, as it was believed that his father held this title. When it was discovered that this was a mistake, the House of Lords decided that there were two baronies of Strange, the original 1299 creation and the new, 1628 creation. James was a staunch Royalist. In 1643 he moved to the [[Isle of Man]] and established it as a Royalist stronghold. He was beheaded in [[Bolton]], Lancashire by the Parliament forces in 1651. His wife was [[Charlotte Stanley, Countess of Derby|Charlotte de la Trémouille]], daughter of [[Claude, Duc de Thouars|Claude de la Trémoille, Duc de Thouars]], who is known as the heroine who defended [[Lathom House]] in 1644 and the [[Isle of Man]] in 1651.

Their son [[Charles Stanley, 8th Earl of Derby|Charles]] became the 8th Earl. He served as Lord Lieutenant of both Cheshire and Lancashire. Lord Derby married Dorothea Helena Kirkhoven, daughter of Jehan Kirkhoven, Lord of [[Heenvliet]] (in [[South Holland]]) and Baron de Rupa of the Netherlands. They had two sons who both succeeded to the earldom. The 8th Earl's eldest son [[William Richard George Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby|William Richard George]] became the 9th Earl. He was also Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and Lancashire. He married Elizabeth Butler, daughter of [[Thomas Butler, Earl of Ossory]], and sister of [[James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde]]. He had two daughters and one son. He outlived his son and on his death in 1702, the barony of Strange fell into abeyance between his daughters. He was succeeded in the earldom by his younger brother, [[James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby|James]], the tenth Earl. He was a politician and served as [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]] and as [[Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard]]. Like many of his predecessors, he was also Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and Lancashire. In 1732 he succeeded his great-niece as 6th Baron Strange. Lord Derby was childless and on his death in 1736, the male line of the second Earl died out. He was succeeded in the barony of Strange, which could be passed on through female lines, by his first cousin once removed, [[James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl]].

The earldom was inherited by his distant relative [[Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby|Sir Edward Stanley, 5th Baronet, of Bickerstaffe]], a descendant of a younger brother of the second Earl, who became the 11th Earl of Derby (see below for earlier history of the baronetcy). He had previously represented Lancashire in Parliament and after he succeeded in the earldom he served as Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire. Lord Derby married Elizabeth Hesketh. His residence was [[Bickerstaffe Hall]] near [[Ormskirk]], [[Lancashire]]. The 11th Earl's younger brother was the Hon. and Rev. John Stanley, Rector of [[Bury, Greater Manchester|Bury]] Parish Church 1743–1778. Edward's eldest son, James, Lord Stanley, was commonly called Lord Strange. Edward outlived James (who died in 1771) and was succeeded by James' son [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby|Edward]], the 12th Earl. He held political office as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and also founded [[Epsom Derby|The Derby]] [[horse-race]]. Lord Derby married [[Elizabeth Smith-Stanley, Countess of Derby|Lady Elizabeth Hamilton]], daughter of [[James Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton]]. His second marriage was to a Drury Lane actress, [[Elizabeth Farren]].

The 12th Earl's first marriage produced his heir [[Edward Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby|Edward]], the thirteenth Earl. He represented [[Preston (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston]] and Lancashire in the House of Commons and in 1832, two years before he succeeded his father, he was raised to the peerage in his own right as '''Baron Stanley''', of Bickerstaffe in the County Palatine of Lancaster. Lord Derby was also a natural historian and his zoological collections were founded [[Liverpool Museum]]. He was also a patron of the arts, especially of the poet [[Edward Lear]] who wrote ''The Owl and the Pussycat'' for the Earl's children. He was married to Charlotte Hornby. In 1844, he had a church built on the Knowsley Estate, St. Mary the Virgin, where several Stanleys found their final resting place.

[[Image:14th Earl of Derby.jpg|thumb|right|225px|[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Edward Smith-Stanley]], 14th Earl of Derby]]

His son, [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Edward]], succeeded him to become the 14th Earl. He is the most famous of the Earls of Derby. Known as a great parliamentary orator, he sat as [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Stockbridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Stockbridge]], a seat bought by his father, [[Windsor (UK Parliament constituency)|Windsor]] and [[Lancashire North (UK Parliament constituency)|Lancashire North]]. In 1844 he was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Stanley. Although at first a [[British Whig Party|Whig]], he later became a [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]] and served three times [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]. Lord Derby was married to Emma Wilbraham, daughter of [[Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Baron Skelmersdale]]. They had a daughter and two sons, both of whom succeeded to the earldom. The eldest son [[Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby|Edward Henry]], was a prominent politician and served under his father as [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs]] and [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]]. He became Foreign Secretary again under [[Benjamin Disraeli]]. In 1880 he joined the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] and was Colonial Secretary under [[William Ewart Gladstone|William Gladstone]] between 1882 and 1885.

[[Image:Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby 2.jpg|thumb|225px|[[Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby|Edward Henry Stanley]], 15th Earl of Derby]]

His younger brother and successor, [[Frederick Arthur Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby]], was a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] politician and held office as [[Secretary of State for War]], as Colonial Secretary and as [[President of the Board of Trade]]. In 1886, seven years before succeeding his brother, he was raised to the peerage in his own right as '''Baron Stanley of Preston''', in the County Palatine of Lancaster. He was also [[Governor General of Canada]] between 1888 and 1893. In 1892, he purchased and donated the [[Stanley Cup]], to be awarded to the "championship hockey club of the Dominion of Canada" each year; it eventually became the trophy for the championship of the [[National Hockey League]]. Lord Derby was married to Lady Constance Villiers, daughter of [[George William Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon]].

He was succeeded by his son [[Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby|Edward]], the seventeenth Earl. Like many of his ancestors he was a politician and notably served as [[Secretary of State for War]]. He was also [[British Ambassador to France|Ambassador to France]], and during this time followed his father's lead by donating the [[Lord Derby Cup]], given each year to the winners of the French [[rugby league]] knockout competition. Lord Derby married Alice Montagu daughter of [[William Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester]]. A pair of Memorial Gates were erected in 1958 on Knowsley Lane on the Knowsley Estate in his memory. His two sons, [[Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley (died 1938)|Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley]], and the Hon. [[Oliver Stanley]] both became Conservative politicians and served together in the same cabinet in 1938. Lord Derby outlived his eldest son and was succeeded by his grandson [[John Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby|John]], the eldest son of Lord Stanley, who became the 18th Earl. He was Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire and also established [[Knowsley Safari Park]] in 1971. He married Isabel Miles-Lade but died childless. {{As of|2017}} the titles are held by his nephew [[Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby|Edward Richard William Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby]]. He is the son of Hugh Henry Montagu Stanley, younger brother of the 18th Earl.

The '''Stanley baronetcy''', of Bickerstaffe in the County Palatine of Lancaster, was created in the [[Baronetage of England]] in 1627 for '''Edward Stanley'''. He was the great-grandson of the Hon. Sir James Stanley, of Cross Hall, [[Lathom]], younger brother of the second Earl of Derby. This branch of the family is known as the "Stanleys of Bickerstaffe". Sir Edward Stanley's great-grandson, the fourth Baronet, represented Preston in Parliament. His son, the aforementioned fifth Baronet, succeeded as eleventh Earl of Derby in 1736. For further history of the baronetcy, see above.

[[James Stanley (bishop)|James Stanley]], son of the first Earl, became [[Bishop of Ely]] in 1506. He sent a small army into the [[Battle of Flodden]], commanded by his alleged son Sir John Stanley who later entered the [[monastery]] of [[Westminster Abbey]].

[[Edward Stanley (1826–1907)|Edward Stanley]], a descendant of Peter Stanley, younger son of the second Baronet, sat as Member of Parliament for [[West Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|Somerset West]] and [[Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)|Bridgwater]].

The Earl of Derby owns [[Knowsley Hall]] and [[Greenhalgh Castle]]; they were the [[Lord of Mann|Lords of Mann]], i.e. of the [[Isle of Man]] from 1405 until 1594.

Several Earls of Derby are buried in St. Mary's Church, Knowsley. Others are buried in the Derby Chapel at [[Church of St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk|Ormskirk Parish Church]].

The [[Baron Stanley of Alderley|Barons Stanley of Alderley]] are members of another branch of the Stanley family. They are descended from the Hon. Sir John Stanley, third son of the first Baron Stanley. Also, [[Edward Stanley, 1st Baron Monteagle]], was the younger son of the first Earl of Derby.

A boarding house of [[Wellington College, Berkshire|Wellington College]] was named 'Stanley' in honour of [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|the 14th Earl]]. During his time at Wellington, [[Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby|the 17th Earl]] was a pupil of this house.

==Earl of Derby, first creation (1138)==
*[[Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby]] (died 1139)
*[[Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby]] (died 1162)
*[[William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby]] (died 1190)
*[[William de Ferrers, 4th Earl of Derby]] (died 1247)
*[[William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby]] (died 1254)
*[[Robert de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby]] (1239–1266)
*[[Edmund Crouchback|Edmund "Crouchback", Earl of Derby]] (1266–1296)

==Earl of Derby, second creation (1337)==
*[[Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster|Henry of Grosmont, 1st Earl of Derby]] (died 1361); also [[Duke of Lancaster]] (1351) and [[Earl of Leicester]] (1345)
*[[John of Gaunt|John of Gaunt, 2nd Earl of Derby]] (1340–1399)
*[[Henry IV of England|Henry (of) Bolingbroke, 3rd Earl of Derby]] (1367–1413; became '''King Henry IV''' in 1399)

==Earl of Derby, third creation==

===Baron Stanley (1456)===
*[[Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley]] (1405–1459)
*[[Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby|Thomas Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley]] ({{Circa|1435|lk=no}} – 1504; created '''Earl of Derby''' in 1485)

===Earl of Derby (1485)===
[[File:Arms of the Earl of Derby 02666.jpg|thumb|260px|[[Armorial achievement]] of the Earls of Derby of the [[Stanley family]], 1781]]
*[[Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby]] ({{circa|1435|lk=no}}–1504)
*[[Thomas Stanley, 2nd Earl of Derby]] (1477–1521)
*[[Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby]] ({{Circa|1508|lk=no}} – 1572)
*[[Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby]] (1531–1593)
*[[Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby]] (1559–1594)
*[[William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby]] (bef. 1584–1642)
*[[James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby]] (1607–1651)
*[[Charles Stanley, 8th Earl of Derby]] (1628–1672)
*[[William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby|William Richard George Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby]] (1655–1702)
*[[James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby]] (1664–1736)
*[[Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby]] (1689–1776)
*[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby]] (1752–1834)
*[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby]] (1775–1851)
*[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Edward Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby]] (1799–1869)
*[[Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby|Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby]] (1826–1893)
*[[Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby|Frederick Arthur Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby]] (1841–1908)
*[[Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby|Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby]] (1865–1948)
*[[John Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby|Edward John Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby]] (1918–1994)
*[[Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby|Edward Richard William Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby]] (born 1962)

The [[heir apparent]] is the present holder's son, Edward John Robin Stanley, Lord Stanley (born 1998).

===Stanley baronets, of Bickerstaffe (1627)===
*Sir Edward Stanley, 1st Baronet (died 1640; great-great-grandson of 1st '''Earl of Derby''')
*Sir Thomas Stanley, 2nd Baronet (1616–1653)
*Sir Edward Stanley, 3rd Baronet (1643–1671)
*[[Sir Thomas Stanley, 4th Baronet]] (1670–1714)
*[[Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby|Sir Edward Stanley, 5th Baronet]] (1689–1776; succeeded as 11th '''Earl of Derby''' in 1736)
''For further Baronets, see above''

===Baron Stanley of Preston (1886)===
*[[Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby|Frederick Arthur Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Preston]] (1841–1908; succeeded his brother as '''16th Earl of Derby''' in 1893)
''For further Barons, see above''

===Line of succession===
{{Collapse top|title={{Small|Line of succession (simplified)}}<ref>{{Cite book |year=2019|chapter=Derby, Earl of |editor1-last=Morris |editor1-first=Susan |editor2-last=Bosberry-Scott |editor2-first=Wendy |editor3-last=Belfield |editor3-first=Gervase |title=Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage |volume=1 |edition=150th |location=London |publisher=Debrett's |publication-date=|pages=1151–1158 |isbn=978-1-9997-6705-1}}</ref><ref name="BP">{{cite book|chapter=Derby |editor1-last=Butler |editor1-first=Alfred T. |title=Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage|volume= |edition=83rd |location=London |publisher=Burke Publishing Co. Ltd. |publication-date=1925 |pages=709–712|url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x000276558?urlappend=%3Bseq=931%3Bownerid=27021597769935206-927}}</ref>}}
{{Tree list}}
*[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby ({{Circa|1435}}–1504)''
**[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Thomas Stanley, 2nd Earl of Derby (1477–1521)''
***[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby (1509–1572)''
****[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby (1531–1593)''
*****[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby (1559–1594)''
*****[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby (1561–1642)''
******[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby (1607–1651)''
*******[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Charles Stanley, 8th Earl of Derby (1628–1672)''
********[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby ({{Circa|1655}}–1702)''
********[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby (1664–1736)''
**[[File:Coronet of a British Baron.svg|15px]] ''[[George Stanley, 9th Baron Strange]] ({{Circa|1460}}–1503)'' 
***''Sir James Stanley (1486–1562)''
****''Henry Stanley (1515–1598)''
*****[[File:RedHandOfUlster_SinisterHand.png|15px]] ''Sir Edward Stanley, 1st Baronet, of Bickerstaffe (died 1640)''
******[[File:RedHandOfUlster_SinisterHand.png|15px]] ''Sir Thomas Stanley, 2nd Baronet (1616–1653)''
*******[[File:RedHandOfUlster_SinisterHand.png|15px]] ''Sir Edward Stanley, 3rd Baronet (1643–1671)''
********[[File:RedHandOfUlster_SinisterHand.png|15px]] ''[[Sir Thomas Stanley, 4th Baronet]] (1670–1714)''
*********[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby (1689–1776)''
**********''[[James Smith-Stanley, Lord Strange]] (1716–1771)''
***********[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby (1752–1834)''
************[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby (1775–1851)''
*************[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby (1799–1869)''
**************[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby (1826–1893)''
**************[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby (1841–1908)''
***************[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby (1865–1948)''
****************''[[Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley (died 1938)|Edward Montagu Cavendish Stanley, Lord Stanley]] (1894–1938)''
*****************[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''[[John Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby|(Edward) John Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby]] (1918–1994)''
*****************''Hon. Hugh Henry Stanley (1926–1971)''
******************[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] '''Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby''' ({{Born in|1962}}) 
*******************'''(1).''' Edward John Robin Stanley, Lord Stanley ({{Born in|1998}}) 
*******************'''(2).''' Hon. Oliver Hugh Henry Stanley ({{Born in|2002}}) 
******************'''(3).''' Hon. Peter Hugh Charles Stanley ({{Born in|1964}}) 
*******************'''(4).''' Richard Hugh Edward Stanley ({{Born in|1993}}) 
********************'''(5).''' William Otto David Stanley ({{Born in|2025}})
*******************'''(6).''' Algernon Edmund Stanley ({{Born in|1999}}) 
****************''Rt. Hon. [[Oliver Stanley|Oliver Frederick George Stanley]] (1896–1950)''
*****************''Michael Charles Stanley (1921–1990)''
******************male issue and descendants in remainder
***************''Hon. Ferdinand Charles Stanley (1871–1935)''
****************''Frederick Arthur Stanley (1905–1978)''
*****************male issue and descendants in remainder
***************''Hon. Frederick William Stanley (1878–1942)''
****************''David William Stanley (1906–1997)''
*****************male issue and descendants in remainder
*************''Hon. [[Henry Smith-Stanley|Henry Thomas Smith-Stanley]] (1803–1875)'' 
**************''Charles Geoffrey Stanley (1839–1877)''
***************''Charles Henry Stanley (1863–19?)''
****************''[[Charles Stanley (priest)|Charles Geoffrey Nason Stanley]] (1884–1977)''
*****************''Eric William Stanley (1922–1998)''
******************male issue and descendants in remainder
*****************Arthur Patrick Stanley ({{born in|1932}})
******************male issue and descendants in remainder
****************''Henry William Stanley (1903–1977)''
*****************''Leslie Hugh Stanley (1931–2006)''
******************male issue and descendants in remainder
*****************Norman Edward Stanley ({{Born in|1937}}) 
******************male issue and descendants in remainder
*************''Hon. Charles James Fox Stanley (1808–1884)''
**************''Charles Edward Henry Stanley (1843–1909)''
***************''Charles Douglas Stanley (1878–1975)''
****************''Charles John Geoffrey Stanley (1918–2018)''
*****************male issue and descendants in remainder
*******''Peter Stanley (d. 1686)''
********''Thomas Stanley (d. 1733)''
*********''Thomas Stanley (1717–1764)''
**********''James Stanley (1750–1810)''
***********''Edward Stanley (1789–1870)''
************''[[Edward Stanley (Bridgwater MP)|Edward James Stanley]] (1826–1907)''
*************''Edward Arthur Vesey Stanley (1879–1941)''
**************male issue and descendants in remainder

There are further heirs to the barony of Stanley descended from the younger brothers of the first earl.
{{Tree list/end}}
{{Collapse bottom}}

===Family tree of the earls of Derby (third creation)===
[[File:Earl of Derby window, Waterhouse cafe.jpg|thumb|Arms of the Earl of Derby in the [[Victoria Building, University of Liverpool]].]]
<div align=center>
{{Familytree/start|style=font-size:100%;line-height:110%;}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||tho|
tho=<small>{{smallcaps|[[Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley|Thomas STANLEY]]}}<br />* {{circa|1405|lk=no}} † 1459 </small>
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||||||||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||tho|
tho=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby|Thomas]]'''}}<br />*1435 †1504 </small>
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||||||||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||geo|
geo=<small>{{smallcaps|[[George Stanley, 9th Baron Strange|George]]}}<br />*1460 †1503 </small>
}}

{{Familytree|border=0|||||,|-|-|(|}}
{{Familytree|border=0||||tho|jam|
tho=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Thomas Stanley, 2nd Earl of Derby|Thomas]]'''}}<br />*1477 †1521 </small>|
jam=<small>{{smallcaps|James}}<br />*1486 †1562 </small>
}}

{{Familytree|border=0|||||!|||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0||||edw|hen|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby|Edward]]'''}}<br />*{{circa|1508|lk=no}} †1572 </small>|
hen=<small>{{smallcaps|Henry}}<br />*1515 †1598 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0|||||!|||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0||||hen|edw|
hen=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby|Henry]]'''}}<br />*1531 †1593 </small>|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|Edward}}<br />*… †{{circa|1640|lk=no}} </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||,|-|-|(|||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|fer|wil|tho|
fer=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby|Ferdinando]]'''}}<br />*1559 †1594 </small>|
wil=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby|William]]'''}}<br />*b.1584 †1642 </small>|
tho=<small>{{smallcaps|Thomas}}<br />*1616 †1653 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0|||||!|||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0||||jam|edw|
jam=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby|James]]'''}}<br />*1607 †1651 </small>|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|Edward}}<br />*1643 †1671 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0|||||!|||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0||||cha|tho|
cha=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Charles Stanley, 8th Earl of Derby|Charles]]'''}}<br />*1628 †1672 </small>|
tho=<small>{{smallcaps|[[Sir Thomas Stanley, 4th Baronet|Thomas]]}}<br />*1670 †1714 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||,|-|-|(|||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|wil|jam|edw|
wil=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby|William]]'''}}<br />*{{circa|1655|lk=no}} †1702 </small>|
jam=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby|James]]'''}}<br />*b.1664 †1736 </small>|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby|Edward]]'''}}<br />*1689 †1776 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||||||||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||jam|
jam=<small>{{smallcaps|[[James Smith-Stanley, Lord Strange|James SMITH-STANLEY]]}}<br />*1716 †1771 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||||||||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||edw|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby|Edward]]'''}}<br />*1752 †1834 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||||||||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||edw|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby|Edward]]'''}}<br />*1775 †1851 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||||||||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||edw|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Edward]]'''}}<br />*1799 †1869 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0|||||,|-|-|(|}}
{{Familytree|border=0||||edw|fre|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby|Edward STANLEY]]'''}}<br />*1826 †1893 </small>|
fre=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby|Frederick STANLEY]]'''}}<br />*1841 †1908 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||||||||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||edw|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby|Edward]]'''}}<br />*1865 †1948 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||||||||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||edw|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|[[Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley (died 1938)|Edward]]}}<br />*1894 †1938 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0|||||,|-|-|(|}}
{{Familytree|border=0||||joh|hug|
joh=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[John Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby|John]]'''}}<br />*1918 †1994 </small>|
hug=<small>{{smallcaps|Hugh}}<br />*1926 †1971 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||||||||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||edw|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|'''[[Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby|Edward]]'''}}<br />*1962 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree|border=0||||||||!|}}
{{Familytree|border=0|||||||edw|
edw=<small>{{smallcaps|Edward}}<br />*1998 </small>|
}}

{{Familytree/end}}
</div> 

==See also==
*[[Baron Mohun]]
*[[Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley (died 1938)|Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley]]
*[[Baron Monteagle|Baron Monteagle (1541 creation)]]
*[[Baron Stanley]]
*[[Baron Stanley of Alderley]]
*[[Baron Strange]]
*[[Oliver Stanley]]
*[[Parliament Square]]

==Notes==
{{More footnotes needed|date=February 2008}}
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Hesilrige |first=Arthur G. M. |date=1921| title=Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy| url=https://archive.org/details/debrettspeeraget00unse/page/282 | location=[[London]] |publisher=[[Dean & Son]]|page=282}}
*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, {{Page needed |date=February 2013}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Derby, Earls of | volume= 8 | pages = 64&ndash;69 |short= 1}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.knowsley.com/?p=71|title=Family History – Knowsley|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713163008/http://www.knowsley.com/?p=71|access-date=17 December 2017|archive-date=2011-07-13}}
*Coward, Barry. ''The Stanleys, Lords Stanley, and Earls of Derby, 1385–1672: The Origins, Wealth, and Power of a Landowning Family''. (Remains Historical and Literary Connected with the Palatine Counties of Lancaster and Chester, 3d series, vol. 30) Manchester University Press (for the Chetham Society), 1983.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Earls of Derby}}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312052418/http://www.jjb.uk.com/william/04ferrs.htm Brief History of the de Ferrars family]}}
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=2J5rkqos7wAC&dq=%22ferrieres+st+hilaire%22+livet&pg=PA42 The Origins of Some Anglo-Norman Families, Lewis C. Loyd, 1951]

{{Extant British earldoms}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Derby}}
[[Category:Earls of Derby| ]]
[[Category:Earldoms in the Peerage of England]]
[[Category:Stanley family|*]]
[[Category:Forfeited earldoms in the Peerage of England]]
[[Category:British and Irish peerages which merged in the Crown]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1139]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1337]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1485]]