Lord Edward Cavendish

"a good fellow". Caricature by Spy published in Vanity Fair in 1886.

Window erected in St Peter's Church, Edensor in his memory. Window by Burlison and Grylls dating from 1892.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Edward Cavendish (28 January 1838 – 18 May 1891) was a 19th-century British politician.

Born in Marylebone, Cavendish was the third son of William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire, by his wife, Lady Blanche Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (a daughter of the 6th Earl of Carlisle and a niece of the 6th Duke of Devonshire). His father and his two surviving brothers were all Members of Parliament (MPs): his eldest brother Spencer, MP for North Lancashire 1857–91 and later 8th Duke of Devonshire, led the Liberal Party and was asked three times to be Prime Minister by Queen Victoria; the middle brother, Frederick was MP for the West Riding and Chief Secretary for Ireland and was assassinated in 1882.

Cavendish was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade. On retirement from the regular army he joined the 2nd Derbyshire Militia (later the Sherwood Foresters), but transferred to the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment in 1888.

Cavendish served as MP for West Derbyshire from the creation of the constituency until his death. Like his eldest brother, he became a Liberal Unionist in reaction to the Liberal Party's policy on Irish Home Rule. Upon his death in Marylebone aged 53, his son, Victor, was elected unopposed to replace him, later becoming the 9th Duke of Devonshire.

Cavendish married his cousin Emma Lascelles, a daughter of the Rt. Hon. William Lascelles, on 3 August 1865. They had three sons:

• 1) Victor Christian William Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire (1868–1938)
• 2) Lord Richard Frederick Cavendish MP (1871–1946)
• 3) Lord John Spencer Cavendish (1875–1914) was killed in action in World War I.

Ancestry

Family of Lord Edward Cavendish

16. William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire               8. George Cavendish, 1st Earl of Burlington                       17. Charlotte Boyle, 6th Baroness Clifford               4. William Cavendish                             18. Charles Compton, 7th Earl of Northampton               9. Elizabeth Compton                       19. Ann Somerset               2. William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire                                   20. Thomas O'Callaghan               10. Cornelius O'Callaghan, 1st Baron Lismore                       21. Sarah Davis               5. Louisa O'Callaghan                             22. John Ponsonby               11. Frances Ponsonby                       23. Elizabeth Cavendish               1. Edward Cavendish                                         24. Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle               12. Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle                       25. Isabella Byron               6. George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle                             26. Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford               13. Margaret Caroline Leveson-Gower                       27. Louisa Egerton               3. Blanche Georgiana Howard                                   28. William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire (= 16)               14. William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire                       29. Charlotte Boyle, 6th Baroness Clifford (= 17)               7. Georgiana Cavendish                             30. John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer               15. Georgiana Spencer                       31. Margaret Georgiana Poyntz

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Lord Edward Cavendish

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by John George Dodson Viscount Pevensey	Member of Parliament for East Sussex 1865–1868 With: John George Dodson	Succeeded by John George Dodson George Burrow Gregory
Preceded by Lord George Henry Cavendish Augustus Peter Arkwright	Member of Parliament for North Derbyshire 1880–1885 With: John Frederick Cheetham	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for West Derbyshire 1885–1891	Succeeded by Hon. Victor Cavendish