Richard Cavendish (Denbigh Boroughs MP) facts for kids
Richard Cavendish (died around 1601) was an English courtier and politician. He lived in Trimley St Martin, Suffolk, and also in Nottinghamshire.
He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Denbigh Boroughs. He served as an MP in 1572 and again in 1584.
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Early Life and Education
Richard Cavendish was the second son of Sir Richard Gernon, also known as Cavendish. His mother was Beatrice Gould. Richard grew up in Suffolk.
He studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge for some time. Later, in 1573, he earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree from the University of Cambridge.
Working for the Queen
Richard Cavendish was involved in important political events during his time. In 1568 and 1569, he helped send secret messages to Mary, Queen of Scots. These messages were about a possible marriage between her and Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk.
Cavendish later shared information about the Duke of Norfolk. After this, he became a Member of Parliament for Denbigh Boroughs in 1572. He was elected even though a powerful person, the Earl of Leicester, did not want him to be.
He was elected as an MP for Denbigh a second time in 1585.
A Challenge to the Queen's Power
In 1587, Richard Cavendish suggested an idea to Queen Elizabeth I. He thought the Queen could create a new official job. This job would be about handling certain legal documents in a court called the Court of Common Pleas.
The Queen agreed and gave this new job to Cavendish for several years. However, the court did not want to accept this new position. This created a disagreement between the Queen's power (called the royal prerogative) and the law. The Queen decided to let the matter go to avoid a big conflict.
Richard Cavendish likely died in 1601. A monument was built to remember him in Hornsey Church, Middlesex.
His Writings
Richard Cavendish was also a writer. He wrote a few books and translations:
- He translated the famous geometry book by Euclid into English.
- He wrote a book called The Image of Natvre and Grace. This book talked about human life and was published in 1574. It was meant for people who followed the Catholic faith.
A poem in a collection called Paradyse of Dayntie Devises might have been written by Richard Cavendish. Some people also think it was written by his nephew, Thomas Cavendish, who was a famous explorer.
