Lord of Mann

• Thomas, Earl of Derby, 1504–1521
• Edward, Earl of Derby, 1521–1572
• Henry, Earl of Derby, 1572–1593
• Ferdinando, Earl of Derby, 1593–1594

In 1598, a succession dispute between the daughters of Ferdinando and their uncle, William, Earl of Derby was heard by the Privy Council. They decided that the right to the Isle of Man belonged solely to Queen Elizabeth I, and the letters patent of 1405 which conferred the lordship of the Isle of Man on the Stanley family were declared null and void as the previous ruler, Henry, Earl of Northumberland, had not been subject to legal attainder, despite his treason, and the 1405 and 1406 letters patent had therefore not taken effect.[6][7]

The Queen, in consideration of the "many eminent services performed to herself and to her royal predecessors by the honourable and noble House of Stanley", withdrew her right and referred the contending claimants to the decision of the Privy Council as to the best claim of inheritance.

The Law Lords on the Privy Council decided "the grant being by letters patent under the Great Seal of England, such right would descend according to the Common Law of England to the heirs general, and not to the heirs male", and the island was therefore awarded to Ferdinando's daughters; whereupon William agreed to purchase their several shares and interests.[8]

The original letters patent having been declared void, the Parliament of England in 1609 under James I passed a Private Act of Parliament entitled "An Act for assuring and establishing the Isle of Man in the name and blood of William, Earl of Derby" [(1609) 7 Jac.1 c.4][9] which established the title in law as Lord of Mann. The lordship was conferred by letters patent dated 7 July 1609 upon William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby.[10] Subsequent succession was under the terms of this grant.[11]

Following the resolution of the succession dispute, it was ruled that the daughters of Ferdinando Stanley were the rightful heirs. As the oldest of them would not reach the age of majority until 1609, two temporary Lords of Mann were appointed by James I by letters patent,[12] so that the daughters could benefit from the Island's revenues.

• Henry, Earl of Northampton, 1607–1608
• Robert, Earl of Salisbury, 1608–1609

Following the coming of age of the heirs, the rights over the island were sold to their uncle, William Stanley. He took up the title of Lord of Mann following the passing of an Act of Parliament.[13]

• William, Earl of Derby, 1609–1612
• Elizabeth, Countess of Derby, 1612–1627
• James, Earl of Derby, 1627–1651 (known as the Great Stanley)
• Thomas, Lord Fairfax of Cameron, 1651–1660 (appointed by Oliver Cromwell during the English Interregnum)
• Charles, Earl of Derby, 1660–1672 (restored by Charles II)
• William, Earl of Derby, 1672–1702
• James, Earl of Derby, 1702–1736
• James, Duke of Atholl, 1736–1764
• Charlotte, Duchess of Atholl and John, Duke of Atholl, 1764–1765

In 1765, Charlotte Murray, Duchess of Atholl, 8th Baroness Strange, sold the suzerainty of the island to the British government for £70,000 and an annuity of £2,000 (£5,235,000 and £150,000 respectively in modern terms). By the passage of the Isle of Man Purchase Act 1765 the title of Lord of Mann was revested into the British Crown. It has therefore since been used in the Isle of Man to refer to the reigning British monarch.

In 1828, all remaining property interests and rights of the dukes of Atholl on the island were sold to HM Treasury, a department of the British government, for the sum of £417,144, equivalent to £35,990,582 in 2019.[14][15] This was accomplished by two Private Acts of Parliament:

• "An Act empowering the Lords of the Treasury to Purchase all the Manorial Rights of the Duke of Atholl in the Isle of Man" [c. 34] 10 June 1824
• "An Act to empower the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury to purchase a certain Annuity in respect of Duties and Customs levied in the Isle of Man, and any reserved sovereign rights in the said Island belonging to John Duke of Atholl" [c. 34] 10 June 1825