Cavendish, WILLIAM

Cavendish, WILLIAM, Duke of Newcastle, son of Sir Charles Cavendish, and nephew of the first Earl of Devonshire, was born in 1592, and educated at St John's College, Cambridge. His learning and winning address made him a favourite at the court of James I., who in 1610 created him Knight of the Bath, and in 1620 Viscount Mansfield. Charles I., who was splendidly entertained by him at Welbeck and Bolsover, in 1628 created him Earl of Newcastle, and in 1638 appointed him governor to his son, afterwards Charles II. His support of the king during the contest with the parliament was munificent. He contributed £10,000 to the treasury, and raised a troop of 200 knights and gentlemen, who served at their own cost. As general of all the forces north of the Trent, he had power to issue declarations, confer knighthood, coin money, and raise men; and the last part of his commission he executed with great zeal. After the battle of Marston Moor (1644), Cavendish retired to the Continent, where he resided, at times in great poverty, till the Restoration. In 1665 he was created Duke of Newcastle; and he died 25th December 1676. He was author of two works on horsemanship, and of several plays, not of a character to increase any man's reputation for intelligence. See his Life by his second wife (1667; new ed. by C. H. Firth, 1886).—She, MARGARET LUCAS (1624-74), the daughter of an Essex house, where 'all the brothers were valiant, and all the sisters virtuous,' had married him in 1645, and was herself the author of a dozen folio volumes of poems, plays, letters, &c.