Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Devonshire
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| Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs | |
| In office 1936–1940 |
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| Monarch | Edward VIII George VI |
| Preceded by | Douglas Hacking |
| Succeeded by | Geoffrey Shakespeare |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 May 1895 St George in the East, Stepney, London |
| Died | 26 November 1950 (aged 55) Eastbourne |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Lady Mary Gascoyne-Cecil |
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| Parents |
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| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
Edward William Spencer Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire (born May 6, 1895 – died November 26, 1950) was an important British politician. He was also known as the Marquess of Hartington from 1908 to 1938. He was the leader of the Devonshire branch of the House of Cavendish, a famous British family. He had a career in the army and in politics. He was also a senior freemason, which is part of a fraternal organization. He died suddenly at age fifty-five.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Edward Cavendish was born in St George in the East, a part of London. His parents were Victor Cavendish and Lady Evelyn Petty-Fitzmaurice.
In 1908, his father became the 9th Duke of Devonshire. This meant Edward received the special title of Marquess of Hartington. He went to school at Eton College and later studied at Trinity College, Cambridge.
After his father passed away, Edward became the owner of Chatsworth House. He was one of the biggest private landowners in both Great Britain and Ireland.
Military Service
Edward Cavendish began his military career in 1913. He joined the Territorial Army as a second lieutenant in the Derbyshire Yeomanry.
When First World War started, he worked as an aide-de-camp for the British Expeditionary Force. In 1916, he became a captain and rejoined his regiment in Egypt. He fought in the later parts of the Dardanelles campaign.
Later, he returned to France and worked in Military Intelligence. He also served with the War Office and the British Military Mission in Paris. He was recognized for his bravery twice. In 1919, he was part of the British group that signed the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the war. He was also given the MBE award and became a knight of the French Legion of Honour.
After the war, he continued to serve with his regiment. He was promoted to major in 1932 and became a lieutenant colonel in 1935. He received the Territorial Decoration for his service. He was also an Honorary Colonel for the 6th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters and its later unit.
Political Career
Edward Cavendish tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Conservative Party twice. He ran in 1918 and 1922 but did not win. However, in 1923, he won the seat for West Derbyshire. He held this position until 1938.
In 1938, he inherited his father's title and became the Duke of Devonshire. This meant he moved from the House of Commons to the House of Lords. He then served as a minister in Winston Churchill's government during World War II. He was a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for India and Burma (1940–1942) and for the Colonies (1942–1945).
He was also involved in local government in Derbyshire. He became a JP (a local judge) in 1917 and a Deputy Lieutenant in 1936. He served as the Lord Lieutenant for the county from 1938 until his death. He was also the Mayor of Buxton from 1920 to 1921.
Other Important Roles
Edward Cavendish held several other important positions. In 1936, he was the chairman of the Overseas Settlement Board. He also served as High Steward of the University of Cambridge and Chancellor of the University of Leeds from 1938 to 1950.
He was a director for companies like The Alliance Insurance Company and the Bank of Australasia. In 1948, he became the president of the Zoological Society of London.
He was also a freemason and served as the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England from 1947 to 1950.
Marriage and Children
In 1917, Edward Cavendish married Lady Mary Gascoyne-Cecil. She was the granddaughter of Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury. They had five children:
- William John Robert Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington (born 1917 – died 1944). He was killed in action during World War II. He married Kathleen Kennedy, who was the sister of future US President John F. Kennedy.
- Andrew Robert Buxton Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire (born 1920 – died 2004). He married Hon. Deborah Freeman-Mitford.
- Lady Mary Cavendish (born and died 1922).
- Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Alice Cavendish (born 1926 – died 2018).
- Lady Anne Evelyn Beatrice Cavendish (born 1927 – died 2010). She worked as a prison visitor.
Edward's sister, Dorothy, was married to Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. His younger brother, Charles, was married to the famous dancer Adele Astaire.
Death and Estate
Edward Cavendish died on November 26, 1950. His body was buried in the churchyard at Edensor, Derbyshire, which is near Chatsworth House.
In 1946, the Duke gave most of his wealth to his only surviving son. He did this to try and avoid high death duties, which are taxes paid on inherited property. His father had to pay a lot of these taxes in 1908. However, the Duke's sudden death less than four years later meant his estate still had to pay a very large tax. This tax led to some of the family's properties, like Hardwick Hall, being given to the National Trust. Many other valuable items, including land, art, and rare books, had to be sold. While most of his property went to the next Duke, his personal money was left to his wife, Mary Alice.
See also
- Gertrude Hullett
Images for kids
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The grave of Edward, 10th Duke of Devonshire, in Edensor churchyard.
