Peregrine Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire
Encyclopedia
Peregrine Andrew Morny Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire, KCVO
, CBE
(born 27 April 1944), is a British peer
. He is the only surviving son of the 11th Duke of Devonshire
and his wife, the former Deborah Mitford
. He succeeded to the dukedom
following the death of his father on 3 May 2004. Prior to this succession, he was styled Marquess of Hartington.
and serves as Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot and chairman of Ascot Racecourse
Ltd. In 1980 he was elected to the Jockey Club
and in 1989 he was appointed its Senior Steward (that is, Chairman). During his five-year term of office, he oversaw a number of changes within the racing industry, in particular the creation of the British Horseracing Board
which is now the governing authority for British racing. He was appointed first Chairman of the Board in June 1993 and retired at the end of his term in 1996. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to racing in 1997 and Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2009 New Year Honours for his services as Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot.
in 2007. He is a trustee of Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust
. He is Chairman of the Devonshire Arms Hotel Group and Deputy Chairman of Sotheby's
. He collects modern British and contemporary painting and sculpture, as well as works in other areas. He took up the position as the third Chancellor of the University of Derby
at a ceremony on 28 October 2008 in Buxton
.
They have three children:
if hereditary peers
were removed from the House of Lords
, on the basis that 'the aristocracy is dead' and 'because then it would be clear-cut what the people wanted, and it would be confusing to maintain hereditary titles'. This mirrored the views of his mother
, who has in the past stated that 'titles are meaningless because peers are no longer legislators'.
This was dismissed as 'nonsense' by Lord Ferrers
, who disagreed with the Duke's claims that the aristocracy was dead. It is not known how serious he was in his intention, but if he were to go ahead with his threat he would be known as Sir Peregrine Cavendish.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 27 April 1944), is a British peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. He is the only surviving son of the 11th Duke of Devonshire
Andrew Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire
Andrew Robert Buxton Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire KG, MC, PC , styled Lord Andrew Cavendish until 1944 and Marquess of Hartington from 1944 to 1950, was a British Conservative politician...
and his wife, the former Deborah Mitford
Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Deborah Vivien Cavendish, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire DCVO , née The Hon. Deborah Freeman-Mitford is the youngest and last surviving of the six noted Mitford sisters whose political affiliations and marriages were a prominent feature of English culture in the 1930s and 1940s...
. He succeeded to the dukedom
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire is a title in the peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England since the 16th century, and have been rivalled in political influence perhaps only...
following the death of his father on 3 May 2004. Prior to this succession, he was styled Marquess of Hartington.
Horse racing
The Duke is well known in the world of horse racingHorse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and serves as Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot and chairman of Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
Ltd. In 1980 he was elected to the Jockey Club
Jockey Club
The Jockey Club is the largest commercial organisation in British horseracing. Although no longer responsible for the governance and regulation of the sport, it owns 14 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham and Newmarket, amongst other concerns such as the National Stud and...
and in 1989 he was appointed its Senior Steward (that is, Chairman). During his five-year term of office, he oversaw a number of changes within the racing industry, in particular the creation of the British Horseracing Board
British Horseracing Board
From 10 June 1993 until 30 July 2007, the British Horseracing Board was the governing authority for horseracing in Great Britain. It was created in 1993, and took on responsibilities previously held by the Jockey Club...
which is now the governing authority for British racing. He was appointed first Chairman of the Board in June 1993 and retired at the end of his term in 1996. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to racing in 1997 and Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2009 New Year Honours for his services as Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot.
Other interests
He was appointed a Trustee of the Wallace CollectionWallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a museum in London, with a world-famous range of fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries with large holdings of French 18th-century paintings, furniture, arms & armour, porcelain and Old Master paintings arranged into 25 galleries.It was established in...
in 2007. He is a trustee of Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust
Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust
Museums Sheffield is the new name for Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust. It is a charity that runs council owned art galleries and museums in Sheffield, England. One of the trustees is His Grace the Duke of Devonshire. They run the following galleries and museums:* Bishops' House* Graves Art...
. He is Chairman of the Devonshire Arms Hotel Group and Deputy Chairman of Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
. He collects modern British and contemporary painting and sculpture, as well as works in other areas. He took up the position as the third Chancellor of the University of Derby
University of Derby
The University of Derby is a university in the city of Derby, England. The main site is on Kedleston Road, Allestree in the north-west of Derby close to the A38 opposite Markeaton Park...
at a ceremony on 28 October 2008 in 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"...
.
Family
He married Amanda Heywood-Lonsdale, daughter of Cmdr Edward Gavin Heywood-Lonsdale on 28 June 1967.http://www.thepeerage.com/p960.htm#i9593http://www.thepeerage.com/s1.htm#s37They have three children:
- William Cavendish, Earl of Burlington (born 1969), known as Bill Burlington. His son and heir apparent is James Cavendish, Lord Cavendish (born 15 December 2010).
- Lady Celina Cavendish (born 1971)
- Lady Jasmine Cavendish (born 1975)
Possibility of renouncing title
In February 2010, the Duke announced his intention to give up his titleHereditary Title
Hereditary titles, in a general sense, are titles, positions or styles that are hereditary and thus tend or are bound to remain in particular families....
if hereditary peers
Hereditary peer
Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...
were removed from the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, on the basis that 'the aristocracy is dead' and 'because then it would be clear-cut what the people wanted, and it would be confusing to maintain hereditary titles'. This mirrored the views of his mother
Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Deborah Vivien Cavendish, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire DCVO , née The Hon. Deborah Freeman-Mitford is the youngest and last surviving of the six noted Mitford sisters whose political affiliations and marriages were a prominent feature of English culture in the 1930s and 1940s...
, who has in the past stated that 'titles are meaningless because peers are no longer legislators'.
This was dismissed as 'nonsense' by Lord Ferrers
Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers
Robert Washington Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers PC , styled Viscount Tamworth between 1937 and 1954, is British Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords as one of the remaining hereditary peers...
, who disagreed with the Duke's claims that the aristocracy was dead. It is not known how serious he was in his intention, but if he were to go ahead with his threat he would be known as Sir Peregrine Cavendish.
Titles from birth
- Peregrine Cavendish (27 April 1944–10 September 1944)
- Earl of Burlington (1944–1950)
- Marquess of Hartington (1950–2004)
- His Grace The Duke of Devonshire (2004–present)
Honours
- Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(2008) - Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1997) - Chancellor of the University of DerbyUniversity of DerbyThe University of Derby is a university in the city of Derby, England. The main site is on Kedleston Road, Allestree in the north-west of Derby close to the A38 opposite Markeaton Park...
(October 2008, a five-year appointment)