James Smith-Stanley, Lord Strange
James Smith-Stanley, Lord Strange | |
|---|---|
Lord Strange, c. 1749 | |
| Member of Parliament for Lancashire | |
| In office 1741–1771 Serving with Richard Shuttleworth (1741–1750), Peter Bold (1750–1761), James Shuttleworth (1761–1768), Lord Archibald Hamilton (1768–1771) | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | |
| In office 1762–1771 | |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Kinnoull |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Clarendon |
| Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire | |
| In office 1757–1771 | |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Derby |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Derby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1716 |
| Died | 1771 (aged 54–55) |
| Spouse | Lucy Smith |
| Children | Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, Thomas Stanley (1753–1779), and others |
| Parent |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Branch/service | Lancashire Militia |
| Rank | Colonel |
James Smith-Stanley, Lord Strange (1716 – 1771) was commonly known by that title, though neither he nor his father had any claim to it. He was the eldest son of Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby, whose predecessor's heirs had used that courtesy title, but the right to two successive baronies Lord Strange (being baronies by writ) had descended to daughters, when the earldom had passed to the heir male.
| Stanley's Name Act 1747 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act to enable James Stanley Esquire, commonly called Lord Strange, Eldest Son and Heir Apparent of Edward Earl of Derby, and his Issue by Lucy his Wife (late Lucy Smith), to take and use the Surname of Smith, and bear the Arms of Smith and Hertz. |
| Citation | 21 Geo. 2. c. 4 Pr. |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 25 March 1748 |
| Commencement | 10 November 1747 |
Status: Current legislation | |
James Stanley married Lucy daughter and coheir of Hugh Smith of Weald Hall, Essex, and took the additional surname Smith on his marriage by a private act of Parliament, Stanley's Name Act 1747 (21 Geo. 2. c. 4 Pr.). This marriage produced Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby and several other children, including Thomas Stanley (1753–1779). He died before his father, so that the earldom passed straight to his son.
He attended Westminster School where he became a close friend of the future soldier, playwright, and politician John Burgoyne, who was to surrender his army at Saratoga in 1777. As a young man, Burgoyne eloped with Lord Strange's sister. Burgoyne also wrote a masque to celebrate the wedding of Edward Smith-Stanley to Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, a daughter of James Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton.