Stanley, Edward George Villiers, 17th Earl of Derby (1865 -1948)
Edward George Villiers Stanley was the eldest son of Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, and Lady Constance Villiers. Upon completing his education at Wellington College, Berkshire, he joined the Grenadier Guards as a lieutenant, and served in that regiment between 1885 and 1895. He was Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General of Canada, his father, between 1888 and 1891 and fought in the Second Boer War 1899 -1900. Lord Derby married Lady Alice Maude Olivia Montagu, daughter of William Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester, and Louisa von Alten, in 1889. They had three children together. In 1908 he succeeded his father in the earldom. During World War I he organized successful recruitment campaigns in Liverpool, the city which he served as Lord Mayor between 1911 and 1912. In July 1916 Stanley was appointed Under-Secretary of State for War in Asquith’s government, and in December 1916 he was promoted to Secretary of State for War by David Lloyd George. After the war, in 1918 he was made Ambassador to France. He was also a champion racehorse owner and horses from his stables won many of the major British horse races. He was succeeded in the earldom by his grandson, Edward. He is buried in Liverpool Cathedral.