Lord+Stanley-Earl+of+Derby

 =Lord Stanley- The 1st Earl of Derby = By: Kristi Sasamori

In History Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby, (1435 - 29th, July 1504) was the King of Mann, a English nobleman and stepfather to King Henry VII of England. After his father's death in 1459, Stanley inherited his father's titles of King of Mann and Baron Stanley. Stanley was in favour with successive kings during the Wars of the Roses until his death in 1504. His second wife was Margaret Beaufort, whose son was Henry Tudor, the leading Lancastrian claimant to the throne. King Richard III trusted Stanley even after imprisoning him in 1483 on suspicion of conspiracy. Richard held Stanley's eldest son, Lord Strange hostage for his father's continuing loyalty. After the death of Richard, it is said that Stanley retrieved Richard's lost crown from the battlefield and placed it on the head of his own stepson.

In the Play Richard III In the play, Lord Stanley is the stepfather of Richmond, who plans to and eventually succeeds in claiming the throne of England by defeating Richard III and his army. Stanley first appears in the play in Act 1 scene 3 where he enters with Buckingham to report that King Edward IV is doing better. Stanley is good friends with Hastings and in act 3 scene 2, Stanley tries to save Hastings by sending a messenger to tell him to flee as far away as possible from Richard, but he is unsuccessful in saving Hastings from Richard's trap. Stanley's nightmare of a boar, (symbolizing Richard) attacking him and killing him portrayed and warned how Richard was going to eventually kill everyone around him that is a threat to his claim of the throne. The Messenger said, "And then he sends you word He dreamt to-night the boar had razed his helm: Besides, he says there are two councils held; And that may be determined at the one which may make you and him to rue at the other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure, If presently you will take horse with him, And with all speed post with him toward the north, To shun the danger that his soul divines." Stanley also faces a problem that he has to be loyal to Richard because his young son George is held as a hostage by Richard to ensure Stanley's loyalty. Stanley wants to side with his step-son Richmond to fight Richard, but he is unable to because his son George's life is at stake.