Georgiana (Spencer) Cavendish (1757 - 1806)

Born 7 Jun 1757 in Althorp, Northamptonshire, England

Ancestors

Wife of William Cavendish KG KB — married 6 Jun 1774 in St Mary's Church, Wimbledon, Surrey, England

Descendants

Died 30 Mar 1806 at age 48 in Devonshire House, London, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chet Spencer [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Cavendish Name Study.

Georgiana (Spencer) Cavendish was born in Althorp, Northamptonshire, England.

Georgiana Spencer was a member of the aristocracy in England.

Georgiana (Spencer) Cavendish is Notable.

Georgiana Spencer was born on 7 June 1757. She was the daughter of John Spencer and Margaret Poyntz

Name: Georgiana Spencer

Gender: Female

Christening Date: 12 Jul 1757

Christening Place: WIMBLEDON,SURREY,ENGLAND

Father's Name: John Spencer

Mother's Name: Georgiana^[1]

She was very young on her marriage to William Cavendish

Name: William Duke

Spouse's Name: Georgiana Spencer

Event Date: 05 Jun 1774

Event Place: Wimbledon,Surrey,England

She was an English socialite, and also a style icon, author, and activist.

She was one of the most celebrated and influential woman of her time.^[2]

As the wife of one the richest men in the country, Georgiana could indulge her passion for fashion, introducing the vogue for elaborate and tall hairstyles. She also loved gambling, and ran up huge debts over the course of her life.

Although women could not vote, Georgiana became a central advocate for the Whig Party.

Before their marriage, the duke had fathered an illegitimate daughter, Charlotte Williams.

This was unknown to the duchess until years after her marriage to the duke. After the death of the child's mother, she was compelled to raise Charlotte herself.

In 1782 the duchess met Lady Elizabeth Foster and they became close friends, Lady Elizabeth had become destitute after separating from her husband and three sons and the duchess agreed to having Lady Elizabeth live with them. When the Duke began a sexual relationship with Lady Elizabeth it was arranged that Lady Elizabeth live with them permanently.

Despite her unhappiness with her detached and philandering husband and volatile marriage, the duchess, as per the custom of the day, was not socially permitted to take a lover without first having produced an heir.

The first successful pregnancy resulted in the birth of Lady Georgiana Dorothy Cavendish on 12 July 1783.

On 29 August 1785, a second successful pregnancy resulted in another daughter: Lady Harriet Elizabeth Cavendish,

On 21 May 1790, the duchess gave birth to a male heir William George Spencer Cavendish.

The duchess began an affair with Charles Grey (later Earl Grey) shortly after because by 1791 she was pregnant by him and sent to France,

On 20 February 1792, Eliza Courtney was born. and the duchess was forced to give away the illegitimate daughter to Grey's family

Georgiana Cavendish, 5th Duchess of Devonshire died on 30 March 1806 aged 48.

Sources

1. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWF3-B4J
2. ↑ https://www.epochs-of-fashion.com/fashion-icons-in-history/georgiana-duchess-of-devonshire/

• wikipedia:Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
• https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/first-lady-of-fashion-georgiana-duchess-of-devonshire
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10126610

Foreman, Amanda. Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire. New York: Random House, 1998.