Derby, Earl of (1799-1869), served as prime minister of the United Kingdom from February to December 1852, from February 1858 to June 1859, and from July 1866 to February 1868.
Derby was born Edward Geoffrey Smith Stanley at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire, on March 29, 1799. He was the first of seven children born to Edward Smith Stanley, Thirteenth Earl of Derby, and Charlotte Margaret Hornby. Young Edward was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. He entered Parliament in 1820 as representative for Stockbridge in the House of Commons. In 1830, Stanley was made chief secretary for Ireland in Lord Grey’s Whig administration. He supported the Reform Act of 1832, which gave the right to vote to more British people than ever before. In 1833, as secretary of state for the colonies, he introduced measures for the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. He joined the Tory Party in 1834. He succeeded his father as Earl of Derby in 1851 and took his seat in the House of Lords. In 1863, he declined an offer to become the king of Greece. During his last premiership, Derby oversaw the Reform Act of 1867. The act extended the right to vote to more working class adult males, doubling the British electorate. Derby died on Oct. 23, 1869, at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire.
