Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby

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Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby KG , PC, GCB, GCVO, TD (4 April 1865–4 February 1948) was an English politician around the turn of the 20th century.

He was the son of the 16th Earl of Derby. Educated at Wellington, he joined the Grenadier Guards as a lieutenant, and served in that regiment between 1885 and 1895. He also served as Secretary of State for War (two separate times) and Ambassador to France. He married Lady Alice Maude Olivia Montagu, daughter of the 7th Duke of Manchester; they had three children together. Two of them, Edward and Oliver, achieved the rare distinction of sitting in the same Cabinet between May and October 1938 until Edward's death.

He served as honorary president of the Rugby Football League, and donated a cup for the French authorities to use for a knock-out competition, much as his father had done for ice hockey with the Stanley Cup. This is now known as the Lord Derby Cup. He was also, from 1929 to 1945, the chairman of the Pilgrims Society, becoming their president, until his death in 1948.

[edit] Horse racing

The Epsom Derby was named after the 12th Earl while the Epsom Oaks was named after the 12th Earl's house near Epsom. The 17th Earl followed in the family tradition and was one of the most prominent owner breeders during the first half of the 20th century. Among his stables' important wins were:

• Epsom Derby (3) : 1924, 1933, 1942
• Epsom Oaks (3) : 1928, 1945
• St. Leger Stakes (6) : 1910, 1919, 1923, 1928, 1933, 1943
• One Thousand Guineas (7) : 1916, 1918, 1923, 1940, 1936, 1943, 1945
• Two Thousand Guineas (2) : 1926, 1944

Amidst great fanfare that includied making the cover of TIME, in 1930 the 17th Earl visited Louisville, Kentucky where he was the honoured guest of Churchill Downs president Col. Matt Winn at the 56th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Frank Hardcastle	Member of Parliament for Westhoughton 1892–1906	Succeeded by William Tyson Wilson
Political offices
Preceded by Austen Chamberlain	Postmaster General 1903–1905	Succeeded by Sydney Buxton
Preceded by David Lloyd George	Secretary of State for War 1916–1918	Succeeded by The Viscount Milner
Preceded by Laming Worthington-Evans	Secretary of State for War 1921–1922	Succeeded by Stephen Walsh
Diplomatic Posts
Preceded by The Viscount Bertie of Thame	British Ambassador to France 1918–1920	Succeeded by The Lord Hardinge of Penshurst
Honorary Titles
Preceded by The Lord Shuttleworth	Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire 1928–1948	Succeeded by The Earl Peel
Peerage of England
Preceded by Frederick Stanley	Earl of Derby 1908–1948	Succeeded by Edward Stanley