William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
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William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, KG
(14 December 1748 – 29 July 1811) was a British aristocrat and politician. He was the eldest son of the William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
by his wife the heiress Lady Charlotte Boyle, suo jure
Baroness Clifford of Lanesborough, who brought in considerable money and estates to the Cavendish family. He was invited to join the Cabinet on three occasions, but declined each offer. He was Lord High Treasurer of Ireland
and Governor of Cork, and Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire. The 5th Duke is best known for his first wife Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. At the age of about twenty, Devonshire toured Italy with William Fitzherbert
which is where they commissioned the pair of portraits by Pompeo Batoni
.
He was married twice: first, to Lady Georgiana Spencer
(1757–1806); second, to Lady Elizabeth Foster
, née Hervey (1759–1824), daughter of the 4th Earl of Bristol
, who had been his mistress and his first wife's friend and confidante for more than twenty years.
, sometimes called "The Bachelor Duke", who succeeded him and who died unmarried in 1858), and two daughters: Lady Georgiana "Little G" Cavendish, later the Countess of Carlisle (wife of George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle
), and Lady Harriet "Harryo" Cavendish, later the Countess Granville (wife of Lord Granville Leveson-Gower
, who was created 1st Earl Granville
). Both daughters left descendants. The title of Baron Clifford of Lanesborough has fallen into abeyance
between them, and the present Earl of Carlisle
and the present Earl Granville
have inherited their titles from Georgiana and Harriet respectively. However, the dukedom and estates passed eventually to a grandson of a younger brother of the 5th Duke of Devonshire; the 7th Duke of Devonshire
had however married a daughter of the 6th Earl of Carlisle
, and thus a granddaughter of the 5th Duke and niece of the 6th Duke.
Georgiana Spencer was a socialite who gathered around her a large circle of literary and political friends. She was painted by Thomas Gainsborough
and Joshua Reynolds
; the Gainsborough painting was disposed of by the 5th Duke and was recovered only much later, after many vicissitudes.
By his second wife, Lady Elizabeth Foster
, he had no legitimate issue. A son, Augustus, was given the surname Clifford and became Sir Augustus Clifford
and rose to senior rank in the navy. His descendants eventually died out in the male line in 1895. His daughter by Lady Elizabeth, Caroline, was given a different surname from her brother, St. Jules. Caroline St. Jules married the Hon. George Lamb, a brother of the 2nd Viscount Melbourne
(himself married to Lady Caroline Ponsonby
, niece of Lady Georgiana Spencer
, the 5th Duke's 1st wife). Caroline and George Lamb had no issue.
The 5th Duke also had a daughter — Charlotte, given the surname Williams - by his mistress, Charlotte Spencer, the daughter of an indigent clergyman. His first child was born shortly after his marriage to Lady Georgiana Spencer (no relation to his mistress). Charlotte was later married off suitably.
The fifth Duke was closely involved with the nearby spa town
of Buxton
. He used the profits from his copper
mines to transform the town into a replica of Bath, including the Crescent Hotel
and an octagonal set of stables, which would later become The Devonshire Dome.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(14 December 1748 – 29 July 1811) was a British aristocrat and politician. He was the eldest son of the William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, KG, PC , styled Lord Cavendish before 1729 and Marquess of Hartington between 1729 and 1755, was a British Whig statesman who was briefly nominal Prime Minister of Great Britain...
by his wife the heiress Lady Charlotte Boyle, suo jure
Suo jure
Suo jure is a Latin phrase meaning "in her [or his] own right".It is commonly encountered in the context of titles of nobility, especially in cases where a wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her marriage....
Baroness Clifford of Lanesborough, who brought in considerable money and estates to the Cavendish family. He was invited to join the Cabinet on three occasions, but declined each offer. He was Lord High Treasurer of Ireland
Lord High Treasurer of Ireland
The Lord High Treasurer of Ireland was the chief financial officer of that kingdom until the treasuries of Great Britain and Ireland were united in 1817...
and Governor of Cork, and Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire. The 5th Duke is best known for his first wife Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. At the age of about twenty, Devonshire toured Italy with William Fitzherbert
Sir William Fitzherbert, 1st Baronet
Sir William FitzHerbert, 1st Baronet was the first baronet Fitzherbert of Tissington. He was a lawyer and recorder for Derby. He was an usher to George III. He owned a number of plantations for sugar and coffee in Jamaica and Barbados.-Biography:...
which is where they commissioned the pair of portraits by Pompeo Batoni
Pompeo Batoni
Pompeo Girolamo Batoni was an Italian painter whose style incorporated elements of the French Rococo, Bolognese classicism, and nascent Neoclassicism.-Biography:He was born in Lucca, the son of a goldsmith, Paolino Batoni...
.
Family and inheritance
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire , formerly Lady Georgiana Spencer, was the first wife of the 5th Duke of Devonshire, and mother of the 6th Duke of Devonshire. Her father, the 1st Earl Spencer, was a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. Her niece was Lady Caroline Lamb...
(1757–1806); second, to Lady Elizabeth Foster
Elizabeth Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Elizabeth Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire , , is best known as an early woman novelist, and as the close friend of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire...
, née Hervey (1759–1824), daughter of the 4th Earl of Bristol
Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol
Frederick Augustus Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol, PC , known as The Earl-Bishop, was Bishop of Cloyne from 1767 to 1768 and Bishop of Derry from 1768 to 1803.- Life :...
, who had been his mistress and his first wife's friend and confidante for more than twenty years.
First marriage
By his first wife, he had one son (William Cavendish, 6th Duke of DevonshireWilliam Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire KG, PC , styled Marquess of Hartington until 1811, was a British peer, courtier and Whig politician...
, sometimes called "The Bachelor Duke", who succeeded him and who died unmarried in 1858), and two daughters: Lady Georgiana "Little G" Cavendish, later the Countess of Carlisle (wife of George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle
George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle
George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle KG, PC, FRS , styled Viscount Morpeth until 1825, was a British statesman...
), and Lady Harriet "Harryo" Cavendish, later the Countess Granville (wife of Lord Granville Leveson-Gower
Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville
Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville GCB PC , known as Lord Granville Leveson-Gower from 1786 to 1814 and as the Viscount Granville from 1814 to 1833, was a British Whig statesman and diplomat....
, who was created 1st Earl Granville
Earl Granville
Earl Granville is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of Great Britain and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.-First Creation:...
). Both daughters left descendants. The title of Baron Clifford of Lanesborough has fallen into abeyance
Abeyance
Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
between them, and the present Earl of Carlisle
Earl of Carlisle
Earl of Carlisle is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1322 when the soldier Andrew Harclay, 1st Baron Harclay was made Earl of Carlisle. He had already been summoned to Parliament as Lord Harclay in 1321...
and the present Earl Granville
Earl Granville
Earl Granville is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of Great Britain and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.-First Creation:...
have inherited their titles from Georgiana and Harriet respectively. However, the dukedom and estates passed eventually to a grandson of a younger brother of the 5th Duke of Devonshire; the 7th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire KG, PC , styled as Lord Cavendish of Keighley between 1831 and 1834 and known as The Earl of Burlington between 1834 and 1858, was a British landowner, benefactor and politician.-Background and education:Cavendish was the son of William Cavendish, eldest...
had however married a daughter of the 6th Earl of Carlisle
George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle
George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle KG, PC, FRS , styled Viscount Morpeth until 1825, was a British statesman...
, and thus a granddaughter of the 5th Duke and niece of the 6th Duke.
Georgiana Spencer was a socialite who gathered around her a large circle of literary and political friends. She was painted by Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
and Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
; the Gainsborough painting was disposed of by the 5th Duke and was recovered only much later, after many vicissitudes.
Second marriage
Elizabeth Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Elizabeth Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire , , is best known as an early woman novelist, and as the close friend of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire...
, he had no legitimate issue. A son, Augustus, was given the surname Clifford and became Sir Augustus Clifford
Sir Augustus Clifford, 1st Baronet
Admiral Sir Augustus William James Clifford, 1st Baronet, CB, MP was a British Royal Navy officer, court official, and usher of the Black Rod.-Naval career:...
and rose to senior rank in the navy. His descendants eventually died out in the male line in 1895. His daughter by Lady Elizabeth, Caroline, was given a different surname from her brother, St. Jules. Caroline St. Jules married the Hon. George Lamb, a brother of the 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister . He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics...
(himself married to Lady Caroline Ponsonby
Lady Caroline Lamb
The Lady Caroline Lamb was a British aristocrat and novelist, best known for her affair with Lord Byron in 1812. Her husband was the 2nd Viscount Melbourne, the Prime Minister...
, niece of Lady Georgiana Spencer
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire , formerly Lady Georgiana Spencer, was the first wife of the 5th Duke of Devonshire, and mother of the 6th Duke of Devonshire. Her father, the 1st Earl Spencer, was a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. Her niece was Lady Caroline Lamb...
, the 5th Duke's 1st wife). Caroline and George Lamb had no issue.
The 5th Duke also had a daughter — Charlotte, given the surname Williams - by his mistress, Charlotte Spencer, the daughter of an indigent clergyman. His first child was born shortly after his marriage to Lady Georgiana Spencer (no relation to his mistress). Charlotte was later married off suitably.
The fifth Duke was closely involved with the nearby spa town
Spa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
of Buxton
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
. He used the profits from his copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mines to transform the town into a replica of Bath, including the Crescent Hotel
Buxton Crescent
Buxton Crescent is a Grade-1 listed building in the town of Buxton, Derbyshire, England.Owing much to the Royal Crescent in Bath, but described by the Royal Institution of British Architects as "more richly decorated and altogether more complex",...
and an octagonal set of stables, which would later become The Devonshire Dome.
Cavendish in popular culture
- In the film The DuchessThe Duchess (film)The Duchess is a 2008 British drama film based on Amanda Foreman's biography of the 18th-century English aristocrat Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. It was released in September 2008 in the UK...
, about Georgiana, the fifth Duke is played by Ralph FiennesRalph FiennesRalph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English actor and film director. He has appeared in such films as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days, The Duchess and Schindler's List....
.