William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire

For other persons named William Cavendish, see William Cavendish (disambiguation).

William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire, KG, PC, (25 January 1640 – 18 August 1707) was a soldier and statesman, the son of William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire and Lady Elizabeth Cecil. A Whig under Charles II of England and James II of England, he was leader of the anti-court and anti-Romanist 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 of Orange to the throne. 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 (1646–1707), daughter of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, on October 26, 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 – May 10, 1700)
Lord James Cavendish (bef. 1707 – 14 December 1751)

[edit] See also

Chatsworth House - includes an account of the Duke's reconstruction of the house.

Parliament of England
Preceded by Viscount Mansfield John Ferrers	Member of Parliament for Derbyshire with John Frescheville 1661-1665 John Milward 1665-1670 William Sacheverell 1670-1684 1661–1684	Succeeded by Sir Robert Coke, Bt Sir Gilbert Clarke
Political offices
Preceded by The Duke of Ormonde	Lord Steward 1689–1707	Succeeded by The Duke of Devonshire
Honorary Titles
Preceded by The Earl of Scarsdale	Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire 1689–1707	Succeeded by The Duke of Devonshire
Preceded by The Duke of Newcastle	Custos Rotulorum of Derbyshire 1689–1707	Succeeded by The Duke of Devonshire
Preceded by Unknown	Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire 1692–1694	Succeeded by The Duke of Newcastle
Legal Offices
Preceded by The Earl of Kingston	Justice in Eyre north of the Trent 1690–1707	Succeeded by The Duke of Devonshire
Peerage of England
Preceded by (new creation)	Duke of Devonshire 1694–1707	Succeeded by William Cavendish
Preceded by William Cavendish	Earl of Devonshire 1684–1707	Succeeded by William Cavendish