Oct. 16, 2025

History Study Day: The Life and Legacy of the 14th Earl of Derby: Prime Minister Three Times to Queen Victoria

Knowsley Hall

You are invited to an exclusive study day at Knowsley Hall on 16th October 2025, dedicated to the remarkable life of Edward Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, the 14th Earl of Derby. Known for serving as Prime Minister three times during Queen Victoria’s reign, this event will focus on his largely unknown travel journals, A Grand Tour Journal 1820 – 1822 and A North American Journal 1824 – 1825, offering a unique lens into his political and personal legacy.

Speakers & Talks:

  • Professor Andrew O’Shaughnessy: The significance of the North American Travel Journal’s eyewitness reports and their insights into American democracy.

  • Patrick Dallaire: The importance of the American Journal in the evolution of the Canadian Constitution (1822-1840).

  • Dr. Geoffrey Hicks: The later political career of the 14th Earl of Derby.

  • Anne Somerset: Queen Victoria and her Prime Minister, the 14th Earl of Derby.

  • Professor Christopher Leslie Brown: The Earl of Derby's anti-slavery career.

  • Professor Jeanie Grant Moore: The relationship between the 14th Earl of Derby and Charles Dickens.

 

BOOK A VISIT

  • Ticketed event FROM £75.00
  • Ticketed event FROM £75.00
  • History Study Day: The Life and Legacy of the 14th Earl of Derby: Prime Minister Three Times to Queen Victoria

    MORE ABOUT THIS LOCATION

    Knowsley Hall

    KNOWSLEY HALL

    Admire the exquisite State Rooms with their intricate ceilings and grand chandeliers, explore the Hall's links to Shakespeare, and take in the beautiful Capability Brown inspired gardens, home to the stunning Fountain of Venus and the picturesque Rose Garden.

    Knowsley Hall

    Knowsley Hall, located in Merseyside, has been the ancestral home of the Stanley family, the Earls of Derby, since the 15th century. Since 1495, this historic house has been welcoming royalty and distinguished guests, offering an idyllic setting for luxury weddings, glamorous parties, charity balls, gala dinners, filming locations, and private stays. The estate’s origins date back to the 12th century when it was a modest hunting lodge. Over the centuries, it has evolved into a grand stately home, reflecting the power and influence of the Stanley family in British history.

    In the late 18th century, James Stanley, the 10th Earl of Derby, transformed Knowsley Hall into a neoclassical masterpiece. The house features sumptuous interiors and extensive art collections, including portraits by Van Dyck and Stubbs. The surrounding parkland, designed by the renowned landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, complements the hall’s grandeur with its sweeping vistas and serene lakes.

    Knowsley Hall has hosted numerous royal visits, including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the 19th century. The estate remains a vibrant part of the local community, hosting events and weddings, and it continues to be a testament to the enduring legacy of the Stanley family.

     

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