Stanley, Margaret, Countess of Derby

Margaret Stanley (née Clifford), Countess of Derby (1540–1596), was first cousin once removed to Queen Elizabeth I and one of the ladies of the queen’s privy chamber. She spent many years in Elizabeth’s court, especially after her estrangement from her husband, Henry Stanley, Earl of Derby. Stanley was a collector of literary works and a sought-after patron. Her surviving letters show her familiarity with the tropes of the day, and an ability to vividly portray emotion. She fell into disgrace in 1579 and lived in retirement until her death in 1596.