Christiana Bruce, Countess of Devonshire

Christian(a) Cavendish, Countess of Devonshire (died 1675) was an influential Anglo-Scottish landowner and royalist.

She was the daughter of Edward Bruce, 1st Lord Kinloss. In token of her father's services she received, on her marriage to William Cavendish from King James I a grant of £10,000. They had three children.

After the death of her husband in 1628 she had the wardship of the young William Cavendish and the care of the estates, the value of which she increased by prudent management. At the outbreak she was one of the most enthusiastic royalists; her second son, Charles was killed at the battle of Gainsborough on 28 July 1643. She took charge of the king's effects after the battle of Worcester, and during the Protectorate entertained royalists at her house at Roehampton. She also kept up a correspondence with the principal royalists on the continent, and General Monck sent to her privately to make her aware of his intention to restore the king. She was in fact well connected also with Oliver Cromwell, whose daughter Frances had married one of her Rich grandchildren, and she was seen at his court.[1] After the Restoration Charles II frequently came to Roehampton, and Henrietta Maria was on terms of intimacy with her. She died on 16 January 1675.

She entertained wits and men of letters, one of her favourite friends being Edmund Waller, another royalist. Waller dedicated to her his Epistles, which conclude with an Epistle to the Duchess, and he also wrote an epitaph on her son. William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke wrote a volume of poems in praise of her and Lady Rich, which was published with a dedication to her by John Donne.

Notes

• 1.^ Roy Edward Sherwood, Oliver Cromwell (1997), p. 112 and p. 118.
• Attribution
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Cavendish, Christiana". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
• From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Cavendish,_Countess_of_Devon...
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• 'Hon. Christian Bruce1,2
• 'F, #10993, d. 16 June 1674
• Last Edited=28 Mar 2011
• ' Hon. Christian Bruce was the daughter of Edward Bruce, 1st Baron Bruce of Kinlosse and Magdalene Clerk.2,3 She married William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire, son of William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire and Anne Keighley, on 10 April 1608.2 She died on 16 June 1674.2
• ' Her married name became Cavendish. As a result of her marriage, Hon. Christian Bruce was styled as Countess of Devonshire on 3 March 1625/26. She has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.1
• 'Children of Hon. Christian Bruce and William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire
  • 1.Lady Anne Cavendish+1 b. c 1611, d. 24 Aug 1638
  • 2.William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire+1 b. 10 Oct 1617, d. 23 Nov 1684
  • 3.Hon. Charles Cavendish1 b. 1620, d. 1643
• Citations
• 1.[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1127. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
• From: http://thepeerage.com/p1100.htm#i10993
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• 'William CAVENDISH (2° E. Devonshire)
• Born: 1590
• Died: 20 Jun 1628, London, Bishopsgate Str.
• Buried: Derby, All Saints'
• Father: William CAVENDISH (1° E. Devonshire)
• Mother: Anne KEIGHLEY
• 'Married: Christian BRUCE (b. 28 Dec 1595 - d. 16 Jan 1675, Southampton Buildings) (dau. of Sir Edward Bruce, 1° B. Kinloss, and Magdalene Clerk) 10 Apr 1608, London
• Children:
  • 1. Anne CAVENDISH
  • 2. William CAVENDISH (3° E. Devonshire)
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/CAVENDISH.htm#William CAVENDISH (2° E. Devonshire)
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