Earl of Derby (1852, 1858-9, 1866-8) - Prime Minister - Parliament

Edward Stanley was born in 1799 and educated at Eton and Oxford. Although he was a supporter of the Whig party, he initially agreed to join the Tory administration. Stanley’s views became more conservative as the years progressed and he began to consider that Earl Grey was far too radical.

By 1841 he had joined the Conservative Party led by Sir Robert Peel. He first became Prime Minister in 1852 when Russell resigned but he left office when his budget proposal was defeated. His second spell came six years later when he returned as head of a minority government and continued to argue with his adversary – Benjamin Disraeli.

This second spell came to and end when his party was issued with a vote of no confidence. In 1866 Stanley became Prime Minister for a third time but after suffering with poor health he was forced to retire and replaced by Disraeli himself.

Earl of Derby on the opposition:
"The duty of an Opposition is very simple... to oppose everything, and propose nothing"

Earl of Derby’s last speech to the House of Lords:
"My Lords, I am now an old man, and like many of your lordships, I have already passed the three score years and ten. My official life is entirely closed; my political life is nearly so; and, in the course of nature, my natural life cannot now be long"