Elizabeth Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Her Grace The Duchess of Devonshire
Bess in 1787, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds
Born	(1758-05-13)13 May 1758 Horringer, Suffolk, England
Died	30 March 1824(1824-03-30) (aged 65) Rome, Papal States
Title	Lady Elizabeth Foster Duchess of Devonshire
Spouse(s)	John Thomas Foster ​ ​ (m. 1776; sep. 1781)​ William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire ​ ​ (m. 1809; died 1811)​
Children	Frederick Foster Sir Augustus Foster, Bt Elizabeth Foster Sir Augustus Clifford, Bt Caroline St Jules
Parent(s)	Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol Elizabeth Davers

Elizabeth Christiana Cavendish (born May 13, 1758 – died March 30, 1824) was an important English lady and writer. She was also known as Lady Elizabeth Foster. Elizabeth was a close friend of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. Later, Elizabeth married William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, who was Georgiana's husband. Many of Elizabeth's letters are still kept today.

Early Life and Family

Elizabeth Foster's second husband, William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire

Elizabeth Christiana Hervey was born on May 13, 1758. Her family lived in a small house in Horringer, Suffolk, England. Her father, Frederick Hervey, was a bishop and later became the fourth Earl of Bristol.

Elizabeth had three brothers and two sisters. Her brothers included John, Lord Hervey and Frederick, 1st Marquess of Bristol. Her sisters were Lady Mary Erne and Louisa, Countess of Liverpool.

First Marriage and Separation

In 1776, Elizabeth married John Thomas Foster from Ireland. They had two sons, Frederick (born 1777) and Augustus John Foster (born 1780). They also had a daughter, Elizabeth, who was born early in 1778 and lived for only eight days.

When her father became an earl in 1779, Elizabeth became known as Lady Elizabeth Foster. She and John Thomas Foster lived with her parents at Ickworth House in Suffolk. Their marriage was not happy, and they separated within five years. John Thomas Foster kept their sons and did not let Elizabeth see them for 14 years.

Friendship and Second Marriage

Lady Elizabeth with Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, painted around 1791

In May 1782, Elizabeth met the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire in Bath. She quickly became a very close friend of Georgiana, the Duchess. Elizabeth had two children with the Duke: a daughter named Caroline St Jules and a son named Augustus (who later became Augustus Clifford, 1st Baronet). These children grew up at Devonshire House with the Duke's other children.

Georgiana became ill and passed away in 1806. Three years later, Elizabeth married the Duke and became the Duchess of Devonshire. The Duke passed away two years after their marriage.

Children of Elizabeth Cavendish

Elizabeth had children with two different fathers.

With John Thomas Foster:

• Frederick (born October 3, 1777 – died 1853)
• Elizabeth (born November 17, 1778 – died November 25, 1778)
• Sir Augustus Foster, Bt (born December 1780 – died 1848)

With William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire (before their marriage):

• Caroline Rosalie Adelaide (born 1785 – died 1830), who later married George Lamb
• Sir Augustus William James Clifford, Bt (born May 26, 1788 – died February 8, 1877)

Film Portrayals

Lady Elizabeth Foster was played by Hayley Atwell in the 2008 movie The Duchess.