Biography of Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby 1752-1834

Paternal Family Tree: Stanley

On 12th December 1752 Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby was born to [his father] James Stanley "Lord Strange" [aged 36] and [his mother] Lucy Smith.

Around 1754 Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 1] educated at Eton College [Map].

Around 1758 Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 5] educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University [Map].

On 5th February 1759 [his mother] Lucy Smith died.

In 1771 [his father] James Stanley "Lord Strange" [aged 55] died.

On 23rd June 1774 Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 21] and Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby [aged 21] were married. She the daughter of James Hamilton 6th Duke Hamilton 3rd Duke Brandon and Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll [aged 40].

On 21st April 1775 [his son] Edward Smith-Stanley 13th Earl of Derby was born to Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 22] and [his wife] Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby [aged 22]. He married 30th June 1798 Charlotte Margaret Hornby Countess Derby and had issue.

In 1776 Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 23] was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire.

1776 Angelica Kauffmann [aged 34]. Portrait of Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 23], [his wife] Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby [aged 22] and their son Edward Smith-Stanley 13th Earl of Derby.

The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy

The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.

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On 22nd February 1776 [his grandfather] Edward Stanley 11th Earl of Derby [aged 86] died. His grandson Edward [aged 23] succeeded 12th Earl Derby, 6th Baronet Stanley of Bickerstaffe. [his wife] Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby [aged 23] by marriage Countess Derby.

On 17th October 1776 [his daughter] Charlotte Smith-Stanley was born to Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 23] and [his wife] Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby [aged 23]. She married Edmund Hornby.

Around 1777 [his brother-in-law] Douglas Hamilton 8th Duke Hamilton 5th Duke Brandon [aged 20] and Elizabeth Anne Burrell Duchess Hamilton Duchess Brandon [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Duchess Hamilton, Duchess Brandon of Suffolk. He the son of James Hamilton 6th Duke Hamilton 3rd Duke Brandon and [his mother-in-law] Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll [aged 43].

On 29th April 1778 [his daughter] Elizabeth Henrietta Smith-Stanley was born to Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 25] and [his wife] Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby [aged 25]. She married 15th January 1795 Stephen Thomas Cole and had issue.

Around 1779 Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby [aged 25] had a very public affair with John Frederick Sackville 3rd Duke Dorset [aged 33]. She moved out of the family home expecting a divorce. Her husband Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 26] announced he did not intend to divorce his wife and withdrew her access to their children. The countess was socially ostracised for the remainder of her life. She died on 14 Mar 1797. Six weeks later he married again.

On 20th December 1790 [his mother-in-law] Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll [aged 57] died in Argyll House 211 King's Road King's Road. Her son [his brother-in-law] Douglas [aged 34] succeeded 2nd Baron Hamilton of Hameldon in Leicestershire. Elizabeth Anne Burrell Duchess Hamilton Duchess Brandon [aged 33] by marriage Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon in Leicestershire.

On 15th January 1795 [his son-in-law] Stephen Thomas Cole [aged 30] and Elizabeth Henrietta Smith-Stanley [aged 16] were married. She the daughter of Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 42] and Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby [aged 41].

On 14th March 1797 [his wife] Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby [aged 44] died of tuberculosis.

On 1st May 1797 Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 44] and Elizabeth Farren Countess Derby [aged 38] were married. She by marriage Countess Derby. The marriage taking place six weeks after the death of his estranged wife Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby.

On 30th June 1798 Edward Smith-Stanley 13th Earl of Derby [aged 23] and Charlotte Margaret Hornby Countess Derby were married. He the son of Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 45] and Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby.

Around 1801 [his daughter] Mary Smith-Stanley Countess Wilton was born to Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 48] and [his wife] Elizabeth Farren Countess Derby [aged 42]. She married 29th November 1821 Thomas Grosvenor 2nd Earl Wilton, son of Robert Grosvenor 1st Marquess Westminster and Eleanor Egerton Marchioness Westminster, and had issue.

On 25th November 1805 [his daughter] Charlotte Smith-Stanley [aged 29] died.

On 29th November 1821 [his son-in-law] Thomas Grosvenor 2nd Earl Wilton [aged 21] and Mary Smith-Stanley Countess Wilton [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Countess Wilton. She the daughter of Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 68] and Elizabeth Farren Countess Derby [aged 62]. He the son of Robert Grosvenor 1st Marquess Westminster [aged 54] and Eleanor Egerton Marchioness Westminster [aged 51].

The History of William Marshal, Earl of Chepstow and Pembroke, Regent of England. Book 1 of 2, Lines 1-10152.

The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.

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On 23rd April 1829 [his wife] Elizabeth Farren Countess Derby [aged 70] died at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire.

On 21st October 1834 Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby [aged 81] died. His son Edward [aged 59] succeeded 13th Earl Derby, 7th Baronet Stanley of Bickerstaffe. Charlotte Margaret Hornby Countess Derby by marriage Countess Derby.

[his father] James Stanley "Lord Strange" and [his mother] Lucy Smith were married at Keith's Chapel, Mayfair. He the son of [his grandfather] Edward Stanley 11th Earl of Derby.

Biography of Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby 1752-1834

Royal Ancestors of Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby 1752-1834

Ancestors of Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby 1752-1834