Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby

Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby KG, GCB, GCVO, TD, PC (23 St. James's Square, London, 4 April 1865 – Knowsley, 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, at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London on 5 January 1889; 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. Their daughter, Victoria, married the liberal politician Captain Neil Primrose {killed in World War I}.

In October 1915, as Director-General of Recruiting, he instituted the Derby Scheme, a halfway-house between voluntary enlistment and conscription (which the Government was reluctant to adopt). It was not sufficiently successful and conscription followed in 1916.

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.

He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) on 7 December 1920 and is buried in Liverpool Cathedral.

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
* 1,000 Guineas (7) : 1916, 1918, 1923, 1940, 1936, 1943, 1945
* 2,000 Guineas (2) : 1926, 1944

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