Edward Stanley, 3rd earl of Derby

Landowner
Edward Stanley was an English noble. He succeeded to the earldom on his father’s death in May 1521, and during his minority Cardinal Wolsey was his guardian. As soon as he came of age he began to take part in public life.

At the age of 21 Stanley took his seat in the Lords and seemed to be on the fast track to success: Knight of the Bath at 25 and cup bearer at the coronation of Anne Boleyn (28 May 1533).

In the late 1540s, he started to make his objections known to religious change made under Edward VI (1547-1553), so much so that he was commanded to give up his title to the Isle of Man, but refused. Under the reign of Queen Mary (r. 1553-1558), for whose coronation he was created lord high steward, he frequently took part in proceedings against heretics.

At the time of his death he was worth around £120,000, an equivalent of about £7.3bn in 2010.