Derby, Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby (1865–1948)

British Conservative politician, member of Parliament from 1892. He was secretary of war 1916–18 and 1922–24, and ambassador to France 1918–20.

Derby became financial secretary to the War Office in 1900, and was appointed postmaster general in 1903. As director general of recruiting 1915–16, during World War I, he organized the ‘Derby Scheme’ of voluntary enlistment.