[1] – 21 October 1834), usually styled Lord Stanley from 1771 to 1776, was a British peer and politician of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

[3] Derby was returned to Parliament as one of two representatives for Lancashire in 1774, a seat he held until 1776,[4] when he succeeded his grandfather in the earldom and entered the House of Lords.

[5] He served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between April and December 1783[6] in the Fox-North Coalition headed by the Duke of Portland and was sworn into the Privy Council the same year.

He and fellow cocker, General Yates, held annual cockfighting contests with regular stakes between 1,000-3,000 guineas to the winner.

[12] According to an obituary: So strong was the Earl's addiction to his favourite sport, that cocks have been introduced into his drawing-room, armed and spurred, even during the latter days of his life.

They had three children: In the late 1770s, Lady Derby had a very public affair with John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset.

In 1779, the countess moved out of Lord Derby's house, leaving their children behind, apparently expecting that her husband would agree to a divorce and that the Duke would then marry her.

About one year after she left his house, Lord Derby made it known that he had no intention of divorcing his wife; at the same time, he continued to deny her access to her children.