William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire

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His Grace
The Duke of Devonshire
KG PC
William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire (Peakland).jpg
Lord Steward of the Household
In office
1689–1707
Preceded by The Duke of Ormond
Succeeded by William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire
Personal details
Born 25 January 1640
Died 18 August 1707
(Age 67)
Spouse(s) Lady Mary Butler

William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire KG PC FRS (25 January 1640 – 18 August 1707) was an English soldier and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1661 to 1684 when he inherited his father's peerage as Earl of Devonshire. He was created Duke of Devonshire in 1694.

Life

Cavendish was the son of William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire and his wife Lady Elizabeth Cecil. In 1661, he was elected Member of Parliament for Derbyshire in the Cavalier Parliament.[1] He was a Whig under Charles II of England and James II of England and was leader of the anti-court and anti-Catholic party in the House of Commons, where he served as Lord Cavendish. He was re-elected MP for Derbyshire in the two elections of 1679 and in 1681. In 1684 he succeeded to the peerage as Earl of Devonshire on the death of his father and then sat in the House of Lords.[1] 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, Cavendish 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 rebuilt Chatsworth House.

Cavendish was given an honorary MA by the University of Cambridge in 1705.[2]

Family

Cavendish married Lady Mary Butler (1646–1710), daughter of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Preston, on 26 October 1662. They had four children:

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 History of Parliament Online - Cavendish, William, Lord Cavendish
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Parliament of England
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Derbyshire
1661–1684
With: John Frescheville 1661–1665
John Milward 1665–1670
William Sacheverell 1670–1684
Succeeded by
Sir Robert Coke, 2nd Baronet
Sir Gilbert Clarke
Political offices
Preceded by Lord Steward
1689–1707
Succeeded by
The Duke of Devonshire
Honorary titles
Preceded by Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire
1689–1707
Succeeded by
The Duke of Devonshire
Preceded by Custos Rotulorum of Derbyshire
1689–1707
Preceded by Lord Lieutenant of Somerset
1690–1691
Served alongside: The Marquess of Carmarthen
The Earl of Dorset
Succeeded by
The Duke of Ormonde
Vacant
Title last held by
The Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull
Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire
1692–1694
Succeeded by
The Duke of Newcastle
Legal offices
Preceded by Justice in Eyre
north of the Trent

1690–1707
Succeeded by
The Duke of Devonshire
Peerage of England
New creation Duke of Devonshire
1694–1707
Succeeded by
William Cavendish
Preceded by Earl of Devonshire
1684–1707