# Lord Derby — Queen Victoria character guide

> Lord Derby in Queen Victoria by Lytton Strachey.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Derby

**First appearance:** 0030-v-lord-palmerston

## Who they are

Conservative Prime Minister who served three brief terms.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/ii)

Sends a letter informing Victoria of the Duke of Wellington's death.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/ii)

Leader of the Opposition; Victoria sends him a private message asking him not to force a change of government.

### [VIII: Gladstone and Lord Beaconsfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/viii-gladstone-and-lord-beaconsfield)

Derby expresses concern about Disraeli encouraging Victoria's ideas of personal power.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i)

Noted as a former Prime Minister who tottered from the stage, making way for Disraeli.

### [The Faery and the Prime Minister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iii)

Disraeli's Foreign Secretary who expresses concern about encouraging the Queen's 'too large ideas of her personal power' and warns of the risk of ignoring public expectations.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as a Prime Minister who had an audience with Victoria after an illness, noting the royal favor of her regret at not being able to offer him a seat.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/lord_derby
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters