James Stanley Biography and Timeline

Birth of James Stanley

Birth of James Stanley, styled the Great Earl of Derby, eldest son of William, 6th Earl of Derby

Member of Parliament

Elected Member of Parliament for Liverpool

Impeachment

Stanley is accused after violence during an unsuccessful Royalist move against Manchester.

Role range: 1642-1649

Royalist Entry into Manchester

Stanley leads armed Royalists into Manchester but fails to hold the town.

Role range: 1642-1649

Siege of Manchester

Stanley leads Royalist forces into Manchester but is driven from the town.

Role range: 1642-1649

Siege of Bolton

1st of the Cavaliers to enter then take Bolton

Role range: 1642-1649

Royalist Landing

Stanley lands from the Isle of Man with a small Royalist force and begins raising support for Charles II in Lancashire.

Role range: 1642-1651

Meeting with Charles II

Stanley meets Charles II during the southward march and receives authority to raise Royalist forces in Lancashire and Cheshire.

Role range: 1642-1651

Battle of Sedan

Most of Derbys forces are eliminated, Derby joins Charles II at Worcester

Role range: 1642-1649

Defeat at Wigan Lane

Stanley is wounded and escapes after Lilburne routs his Royalist force at Wigan Lane.

Role range: 1642-1651

Battle of Warrington

Joins up with Charles II from the Isle of Man, with a modest force of 250 foot

Role range: 1642-1649 – 1660-1685

Royalist Recruitment

Stanley seeks recruits around Warrington, but his refusal to take the Covenant limits support from local Presbyterians.

Role range: 1642-1651

Rejoins Charles II

Stanley reaches Worcester after surviving Wigan Lane and rejoins Charles II shortly before the decisive battle.

Role range: 1642-1651

Battle of Worcester

Captured during the Battle of Worcester supporting Charles I

Role range: 1642-1649

Battle of Worcester

Stanley fights for Charles II at Worcester, escapes the battlefield and is captured later near Nantwich.

Role range: 1642-1651

Guides Charles II from Worcester

Stanley helps guide Charles II away from Worcester toward the Royalist refuges around Boscobel after the battle.

Role range: 1642-1651

Trial of James Stanley

A court-martial at Chester convicts Stanley of treason for supporting Charles II's invasion and sentences him to death.

Role range: 1642-1651

Capture near Nantwich

Stanley is captured near Nantwich after separating from Charles II during the flight from Worcester.

Role range: 1642-1651

Death of James Stanley

Death of James Stanley, executed after being captured at the Battle of Worcester

Death of James Stanley

James Stanley is executed at Bolton after his capture and court-martial following the Worcester campaign.

Escape Attempt

Stanley attempts to escape from Chester Castle after his conviction but is recaptured before his sentence is carried out.

Role range: 1642-1651

Petition for Clemency

Stanley petitions for mercy after his conviction, but Parliament refuses to overturn the death sentence despite Cromwell's support.

Role range: 1642-1651

Death of James Stanley

Executed after being captured at the Battle of Worcester

Role range: 1642-1649

Execution

Executed after being captured at the Battle of Worcester

Role range: 1642-1649