Preceded by William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire |
Earl/Duke of Devonshire 1684-1707 |
Succeeded by William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire |
William Cavendish, was born on the 25th of January 1640/41, son of William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire and his wife, Elizabeth Cecil. [1]
He was returned to Parliament as Member for Derbyshire in 1661 and took the seat twice in 1679 and in 1681. [1]
He married Lady Mary Butler, daughter of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde [1] and his wife, Elizabeth Preston, Baroness Dingwall, on the 26th of October 1662. They were parents of three sons and a daughter. [1] William also fathered at least one illegitimate child, a daughter. [1]
An original [F.R.S.] Fellow of the Royal Society, 1663. M.A. Oxford, 1663,
Served with the Duke of York in the defeat of the Dutch off Lowestoft, 1665.
Privy Councillor, 1679-1679/1680;
He succeeded to the titles of Baron Cavendish of Hardwick, and Earl of Devonshire on the death of his father on the 23rd of November 1684. [1]
He built a vast mansion at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, [2] begun in 1687.
One of the original leaders of the Whig party and supporters of the exclusion bill. Opposed King James II, June 1688; was one of the first to take up arms for the Prince of Orange. He was one of the seven who signed the invitation to William of Orange to come to England, and was one of the first to take up arms on his behalf on his arrival. PC again1688/1689.
He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) in 1689. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1689. He held the office of Lord Steward of the Household between 1689 and 1707. Colonel of the 4th Regiment of Horse, 1689. Lord Lieutenant of co. Derby, 1689-1707; Lord High Steward of England, Apr 1689; Apr 1702;
Chief Justice in Eyre, North of Trent, 1690-1707;
He was created Duke of Devonshire and Marquess of Hartington in 1694.
One of the Lords Justices, 1695-1701;
He died on 18 August 1707 at age 66 at his London home, Devonshire House, Piccadilly, Westminster and was buried at All Saints Church in Derby.
His will was proved on the 23rd of October 1707.
William had two children by actress Mary Heneage:
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C > Cavendish > William Cavendish KG
Categories: Cavendish Name Study | Fellows of the Royal Society | Devonshire House | Chatsworth, Derbyshire | Knights Companion of the Garter, William and Mary creation | Derbyshire, Cavendish Name Study | Earls of Devonshire | Dukes of Devonshire | Battle of Lowestoft | Notables