(Edward George Geoffrey Smith Stanley). Born Mar. 29, 1799, in Knowsley, Lancashire; died there Oct. 23, 1869. English statesman, large landowner.
In 1822, Derby was elected to Parliament from the Whig Party. In the 1830’s he left the Whigs for the Tory Party. From 1840 to 1844 he was colonial secretary. In 1852, 1858-59, and 1866-68 he was prime minister. In 1867, in response to popular pressure, the Derby government passed the second parliamentary reform act. Derby was an advocate of colonial expansion and an organizer of violent reprisals against national liberation movements in India (suppression of the uprising of 1857-59), Ireland (suppression of the uprising of 1867), and other colonies.