Stanley, William, 6th Earl of Derby (1561 -1642)

William Stanley was the third, but second surviving, son of Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby, and Margaret, eldest daughter of Henry Clifford, 2nd Earl of Cumberland. He matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge in 1572, age eleven. He succeeded his brother Ferdinando, 5th Earl, on 16 April 1594. He married 26 June 1594, Elizabeth, first daughter of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn 13 August 1594. He was made a Knight of the Garter 26 May 1601. He was long in dispute with the three daughters of his elder brother about the Lordship of Man, to which they laid claim, and finally purchased their rights, had the Lordship confirmed to him by the King 7 July 1609, and ratified by an Act of Parliament. His Countess died 10 March 1627. He died 29 September 1642, and was succeeded by his son, James, 7th Earl. The stamp would seem to have been used on the books at Castle Rushen, his seat on the Isle of Man.