George Frederick Stanley served as one of the Governors of Madras Presidency from the year 1929 to 1934, under the rule of the British East India Company. He was formally addressed as Lieutenant Colonel Sir George Frederick Stanley GCSI GCIE CMG. He was also one of the well known British colonial administrators. Stanley was Conservative Party politician and a British soldier who served as a member of the UK Parliament for Preston and Willesdon East. In the year 1934, George Frederick Stanley was appointed as the Acting Viceroy of India.

Early Life of George Frederick Stanley
George Frederick Stanley was born on 14 October 1872 as the 6th son of Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby. He completed his education from Wellington and later studied at Woolwich.

Career of George Frederick Stanley
Stanley joined the Royal Horse Artillery in the year 1893; and later in 1900, he was promoted to the ranks of Captain. He participated in the Second Boer War during 1899 to 1900 and from the year from 1904 to 1909, he served as Adjutant with the Honourable Artillery Company. George Frederick Stanley later served in the First World War. He was mentioned in despatches for his loyal services and was honoured with the Companion of The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) in the year 1916.

Stanley acted as Conservative Member of Parliament for Preston from the year 1910 to 1922 and later for Willesden East from 1924 to 1929. He was appointed as Comptroller of the Household in 1919 and held office till 1921. He also served in several other positions, such as Financial Secretary to the War Office from 1921 to 1922; Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for the Home Department from the year 1922 to 1923; and Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions from 1924 to 1929. George Frederick Stanley was also assigned as a Privy Counsellor in the year 1927.

George Frederick Stanley as Governor of Madras
Lieutenant Colonel Sir George Frederick Stanley GCSI GCIE CMG was appointed as the Governor of Madras Presidency on 11 November 1929. He was preceded by Sir Norman Edward Marjoribanks KCIE, CSI as the Governor of the Province of Madras. The Madras Presidency, also known as the Presidency of Fort St. George and Madras Province, was an administrative sub division of British dominated India. The territory included most of southern India, such as the modern states of Tamil Nadu, the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, Lakshadweep Islands, the Malabar region of North Kerala, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangapur and Gajapati districts of southern Orissa and the Bellary, Ganjam, Dakshina Kannada, Rayagada and Udupi districts of Karnataka.

During his tenure as the Governor of the province of Madras (now Chennai), George Frederick Stanley officially commenced the Mettur Dam around the Kaveri River. The dam was inaugurated on 21 August 1934. A reservoir was also contracted by the Dam which was known as Stanley Reservoir. He also laid the foundation stone of a Gaudiya math on 17 January 1930 and also constructed a temple at Royapettah, Madras. Later in the year 1933, Sir George Frederick Stanley GCSI GCIE CMG introduced the 5 year diploma course on medicine and surgery at the Royapuram Medical College. The institute was later renamed as Stanley Medical College on 2 July 1938. Stanley served in office till 15 November 1934 and was succeeded by Khan Sahib Bahadur Sir Mohammad Usman, KCSI, KCIE, Kt and later by John Francis Ashley Erskine, Lord Erskine GCSI, GCIE on 15 November 1934.

Honours of George Frederick Stanley
George Frederick Stanley was honoured with the Knight Grand Commander of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) in 1929; and Knight Grand Commander of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (GCSI) in the year 1934. He was also knighted with Companion of The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG).

Personal Life of George Frederick Stanley
George Frederick Stanley was married to Lady Beatrix Taylour, CBE CI in the year 1903. She was the youngest daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Headfort. He died on 1 July 1938 at the age of 65, in United Kingdom.