George Frederick Stanley

Who was George Frederick Stanley?

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir George Frederick Stanley GCSI GCIE CMG was a British soldier and Conservative Party politician who served as a member of the UK Parliament for Preston and later, Willesdon East. He also served the Governor of Madras from 1929 to 1934 and as Acting Viceroy of India in 1934.

The sixth son of Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, Stanley was educated at Wellington and at Woolwich. In 1903 he married Lady Beatrix Taylour, CBE CI, youngest daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Headfort.

He entered the Royal Horse Artillery in 1893 and was promoted to Captain in 1900. He served in the Second Boer War in 1899–1900 and was Adjutant with the Honourable Artillery Company from 1904–1909. He later served in World War I and was mentioned in despatches and awarded the CMG in 1916.

He was Conservative Member of Parliament for Preston from 1910–1922 and for Willesden East from 1924–1929.

He held office as Comptroller of the Household from 1919 until 1921, as Financial Secretary to the War Office from 1921–1922, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department from 1922–1923, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions from 1924–1929. He was Governor of Madras from 1929–1934.