Charles, Eighth Earl of Derby, 1660-1672

"Charles, Lord Strange, the eldest son of the illustrious earl who sealed his political and religious conviction with his blood, succeeded as the eighth earl. When fifteen years of age he accompanied his Father to the great muster of Royalists on Preston Moor; but during the terrible struggle between the royalists and the republicans he seems to have remained in a state of perfect inaction When his father was condemned though he was in France and got up two petitions on his behalf; and after the execution he retired to Bidston Hall, Cheshire, where his grandfather had so peacefully passed his latter days After the death of Cromwell, a rising was resolved upon by the Royalists, and Earl Charles appeared at the head of a number of Lancashire men in support of Sir George Booth, of Cheshire. Both were defeated, and Earl Charles was attainted by Parliament, but the Restoration took place the following year, and he was not only set at liberty, but reinstated in his estates and rights in the Isle of Man. The King did not restore the other estates connected with the Stanley family, but Charles, by the economy and prudence of himself and his countess, succeeded in purchasing some of them back, and laying a foundation for future extensions. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, but lived a quiet and almost private life at Knowsley, where he died on the21st December, 1672."

Much against his parent's wishes married Dorothea Helena de Rupa in 1650; his mother never seems to have come to terms with either son or daughter in law, usually referring to her as Delilah, and leaving Charles just £5 in her will. His father seems to have been reconciled sometime before his death.

He set his mind very much against the presence of Quakers on the Island (see Ruillick-ny-Quakern for some discussion) - he was however tolerant of both Catholics and Dissenters in Lancashire so it could be surmised that it was the 'importation' of dissent (which had of course been at the root of the recent civil war and the death of his father) that he was against.

References

for attitude of his mother see Espinaase Lancashire Worthies James 7th;

P. Draper House of Stanley 1864 pp246/252