Lord John James Robert Manners 1818 - 1906

John Manners was the second son of the 5th Duke of Rutland, and had five sisters, hence Disraeli's reference to his knowledge of the value of a sister. In 1888, John becomes the 7th Duke of Rutland. At this time he is a Conservative MP for Leicestershire (from 1857 - 1888). He refused Disraeli's offer of governor-generalship of Canada in 1868.

John Manners was a founding member of Young England, a political group in favour of protectionism and a sounder relationship between the Conservative party and the working classes. He and Disraeli shared a prolific political correspondence over many years.