William Cavendish, 1. Duke of Devonshire

William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire.

William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire KG PC (25 January 1640 – 18 August 1707) was a soldier and Whig statesman, the son of William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire and Lady Elizabeth Cecil.

Life

William Cavendish became Member of Parliament for Derby in 1661. A Whig under Charles II of England and James II of England, he was leader of the anti-court and anti-Catholic party in the House of Commons, where he served as Lord Cavendish. He was a strong supporter of the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 which brought William III of Orange to the throne, signing as one of the Immortal Seven the invitation to William. After the revolution, he was a leading Whig, serving as William's Lord Steward, and was created the Duke of Devonshire (1694) and also Marquess of Hartington in recognition for his services. He married Lady Mary Butler (1646–1710), daughter of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Preston, on 26 October 1662. He rebuilt Chatsworth House. He was also a famous womaniser.

Devonshire and Lady Mary Butler had four children:

• Lady Elizabeth Cavendish (1670–1741), married Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet and had issue
• William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire (c. 1672 – 4 June 1729)
• Lord Henry Cavendish (1673 – 10 May 1700)
• Lord James Cavendish (d. 14 December 1751)

Cavendish was given an honorary MA by Cambridge University in 1705.

See also

• Chatsworth House – includes an account of the Duke's reconstruction of the house.
• List of deserters from James II to William of Orange

References

• Leo van de Pas genealogies

Vorlage:S-bef Vorlage:S-ttl Vorlage:S-aft |- Vorlage:S-vac Vorlage:S-ttl Vorlage:S-aft Vorlage:S-legal Vorlage:Succession box