William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire
Encyclopedia
William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire (27 December 1552 – 3 March 1626) was an English politician and courtier.
, he was educated with the children of George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury
, whom his mother married after his father's death. She made him a rich allowance in his youth. He then entered Clare College, Cambridge
.
He was M.P.
for Liverpool
in 1586 and Newport (Cornwall)
in 1588. He was appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire
, where the estates of his family lay, for 1595 and Justice of the Peace
in 1603. He was created Baron Cavendish of Hardwick in 1605, thanks to the representations of his niece, Arbella Stuart
.
He participated in the colonisation of the Bermudas, and Devonshire Parish
was called after him; he also was a supporter of colonising Virginia.
His mother's death in 1608, and his elder brother Henry's death in 1616, gave him a vast fortune. He was in attendance on James I in a progress in Wiltshire
in 1618, and on 2 August was created Earl of Devonshire, while the court was staying at the Bishop of Salisbury's palace; he was reported to have paid £10,000 for the title. He died on 3 March 1626, and was buried at Edensor
.
, Yorkshire
, circa 21 March 1580. They had three sons and three daughters, including:
Cavendish's second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Boughton of Couston, Warwickshire
, widow of Sir Richard Wortley of Wortley
, Yorkshire
, by whom he had a son, John, made a knight of the Bath when Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales in 1618. Sir John died on 18 January 1618.
Life
The second son of Sir William Cavendish and Bess of HardwickBess of Hardwick
Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury (c. 1521 – 13 February 1608, known as Bess of Hardwick, was the daughter of John Hardwick, of Derbyshire and Elizabeth Leeke, daughter of Thomas Leeke and Margaret Fox...
, he was educated with the children of George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury
George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury
George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, 6th Earl of Waterford, 12th Baron Talbot, KG, Earl Marshal was a 16th century English statesman.-Life:...
, whom his mother married after his father's death. She made him a rich allowance in his youth. He then entered Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
.
He was M.P.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Liverpool
Liverpool (UK Parliament constituency)
Liverpool was a Borough constituency in the county of Lancashire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of England to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by two Members of Parliament...
in 1586 and Newport (Cornwall)
Newport (Cornwall) (UK Parliament constituency)
Newport was a rotten borough situated in Cornwall. It is now within the town of Launceston, which was itself also a parliamentary borough at the same period...
in 1588. He was appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire
High Sheriff of Derbyshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Derbyshire from 1568.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been...
, where the estates of his family lay, for 1595 and Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1603. He was created Baron Cavendish of Hardwick in 1605, thanks to the representations of his niece, Arbella Stuart
Arbella Stuart
Lady Arbella Stuart was an English Renaissance noblewoman who was for some time considered a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I on the English throne....
.
He participated in the colonisation of the Bermudas, and Devonshire Parish
Devonshire Parish, Bermuda
-Location:It is located in the centre of the territory, close to the junction between the main part of the main island and the peninsula containing the capital, Hamilton, and Pembroke Parish . To the northeast, it is joined to Smith's Parish, and to the southwest it borders Paget Parish. As with...
was called after him; he also was a supporter of colonising Virginia.
His mother's death in 1608, and his elder brother Henry's death in 1616, gave him a vast fortune. He was in attendance on James I in a progress in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
in 1618, and on 2 August was created Earl of Devonshire, while the court was staying at the Bishop of Salisbury's palace; he was reported to have paid £10,000 for the title. He died on 3 March 1626, and was buried at Edensor
Edensor
Edensor is a village in Derbyshire, England. It is the closest village to Chatsworth House and much of it belongs to the Dukes of Devonshire. Originally the village was close to the River Derwent immediately below Chatsworth, but the Dukes had it moved out of sight over a hill, apart from one...
.
Family
His first wife was Anne Kighley or Keighley, daughter of Henry Kighley of KeighleyKeighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, circa 21 March 1580. They had three sons and three daughters, including:
- William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of DevonshireWilliam Cavendish, 2nd Earl of DevonshireWilliam Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1614 until 1626 when he succeeded to the peerage and sat in the House of Lords.-Life:...
(c. 1590–1628) - Frances Cavendish (c. 1593–1631), married Sir Henry PierrepontHenry PierrepontSir Henry Pierrepont was an English MP who resided at Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire.-Family:He was the son of Sir George Pierrepont and succeded him in 1564. His mother remarried Sir Gervase Clifton....
, had a son named Robert Pierrepont - Gilbert, who has been credited with the authorship of Horae Subsecivae (see Grey Brydges, 5th Baron ChandosGrey Brydges, 5th Baron ChandosGrey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos was an English nobleman and courtier.-Early life:He was the only son of William Brydges, 4th Baron Chandos, who died on 18 November 1602, and Mary Hopton, who was daughter of Sir Owen Hopton. He was M.P. for Cricklade, in 1597.Brydges and his family were friendly...
), died young - James, died in infancy
Cavendish's second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Boughton of Couston, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, widow of Sir Richard Wortley of Wortley
Wortley
Wortley could refer to:Places*Wortley, South Yorkshire**Wortley railway station**Wortley Hall**Wortley Rural District*Wortley, West Yorkshire - district of LeedsPeople*Alexander Wortley , English naval veteran eccentric...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, by whom he had a son, John, made a knight of the Bath when Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales in 1618. Sir John died on 18 January 1618.