William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire

William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire (27 December 1552 – 3 March 1626) was an English politician and courtier.

The second son of Sir William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick, 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.[1]

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.[2]

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.

His first wife was Anne Kighley or Keighley, daughter of Henry Kighley of Keighley, Yorkshire, circa 21 March 1580. They had three sons and three daughters, including:

• William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire (c. 1590–1628)
• Frances Cavendish (c. 1593–1631), married Sir Henry Pierrepont[disambiguation needed ], had a son named Robert Pierrepont
• Gilbert, who has been credited with the authorship of Horae Subsecivae (see Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos), died young
• James, died in infancy

Cavendish's second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Boughton of Couston, Warwickshire, widow of Sir Richard Wortley of Wortley[disambiguation needed ], 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.

References

• 1.^ Venn, J.; Venn, J. A., eds. (1922–1958). "Cavendish or Candish, William". Alumni Cantabrigienses (10 vols) (online ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• 2.^ "William Cavendish, Earl of Devonshire (1550-1626)". ABC-CLIO. http://www.jamestown.abc-clio.com/ReferenceDisplay.aspx?entryid=999305.
• History of Parliament CAVENDISH, William II (1551-1626) of Chatsworth and Hardwick, Derbys
• Attribution
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Cavendish, William (d.1626)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
• From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cavendish,_1st_Earl_of_Devonshire
• _____________
• 'William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire1
• 'M, #10996, b. 27 December 1552, d. 3 March 1625/26
• Last Edited=9 Mar 2011
• 'William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire 2 William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire was born on 27 December 1552.1 He was the son of Rt. Hon. Sir William Cavendish and Elizabeth Hardwicke.1 He married, firstly, Anne Keighley, daughter of Henry Keighley and Mary Carus, circa 21 March 1580/81.1 He married, secondly, Elizabeth Boughton, daughter of Edward Boughton, before 1619.1 He died on 3 March 1625/26 at age 73.1
• ' He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England.1 He was educated at Gray's Inn, London, England.1 He was invested as a Knight in 1580.1 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Liverpool from 1586 to 1587.1 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Newport, Cornwall from 1587 to 1588.1 He held the office of Sheriff of Derbyshire from 1595 to 1596.1 He was involved in trans-Atlantic land development schemes, including Virginia and Bermuda.1 He was created 1st Baron Cavendish of Hardwick, co. Derby [England] on 4 May 1605.3 He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Bath (K.B.).1 He was created 1st Earl of Devonshire [England] on 7 August 1618.1 He has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.4
• 'Child of William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire and Elizabeth Boughton
  • 1.Sir John Cavendish1
• 'Children of William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire and Anne Keighley
• 1.William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire+1 b. 1590, d. 20 Jun 1628
• 2.Hon. Frances Cavendish1 b. c 1593, d. 1 Sep 1613
• 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#i10996
• __________
• 'William CAVENDISH (1° E. Devonshire)
• 'Born: 27 Dec 1552
• 'Acceded: 7 Aug 1618
• 'Died: 3 Mar 1625/6, Hardwicke
• 'Buried: Edensor co Derby
• Father: William CAVENDISH of Chatsworth (Sir)
• Mother: Elizabeth De HARDWICK (C. Shrewsbury)
• 'Married 1: Anne KEIGHLEY (d. BEF 1619) (dau. of Henry Kighley and Mary Carus) 21 Mar 1580
• Children:
  • 1. William CAVENDISH (2° E. Devonshire)
  • 2. Frances CAVENDISH
• 'Married 2: Elizabeth BOUGHTON (C. Devonshire) (d. 1642?) (dau. of Edward Boughton of Causton and Susan Brockett) BEF 1619
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/CAVENDISH.htm#William CAVENDISH (1° E. Devonshire)
• _____________________
• Elizabeth Hardwicke1,2,3,4,5
• F, b. circa 1527, d. 13 February 1608
• Father John Hardwicke, Esq.6,4,7 b. c 1495, d. 29 Jan 1528
• Mother Elizabeth Leeke6,4,7 b. c 1497, d. c 1570
• Elizabeth Hardwicke was born circa 1527 at of Hardwicke, Derbyshire, England; Age 15 in 1542.1,2,3,4,5 She married Robert Barley, Esq., son of Arthur Barley, Esq., in 1542; No issue.3,4,5 Elizabeth Hardwicke married Sir William Cavendish, Burgess of Thirsk, son of Thomas Cavendish and Alice Smith, on 20 August 1547 at Bradgate, Leicestershire, England; They had 3 sons (Henry, Esq; 'Sir William, 1st Earl of Devonshire'; & Sir Charles) and 5 daughters (Frances, wife of Sir Henry Pierrepont; Temperance; Elizabeth; Mary, wife of Sir Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury; & Lucretia).1,2,3,4,5 .....
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p1260.htm#...
• __________

Photo from "The House, A portrait of Chatsworth" by Deborah Devonshire, the Duchess of Devonshire. MacMillan. London 1982.