Mary Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Mary Alice Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire was a British courtier who served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Elizabeth II from 1953 to 1967. She was the granddaughter of Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury.
Early life
She was born the Honourable Mary Alice Gascoyne-Cecil in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, on 29 July 1895. She was the second daughter of James Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount Cranborne, and Lady Cicely Alice Gore, who served as Extra Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Alexandra. Her maternal grandparents were Arthur Gore, 5th Earl of Arran and Lady Edith Jocelyn. Her paternal grandparents were Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury and the former Georgiana Alderson.In 1903, her father succeeded as the Marquess of Salisbury and she was styled Lady Mary Gascoyne-Cecil. Her older brother, Robert became the 5th Marquess of Salisbury upon their father's death in 1947. Her younger brother, Lord David Cecil, was a prominent biographer, historian and academic.
Functions
She was Mistress of the Robes to Elizabeth II from 1953 to 1967 and Chancellor of the University of Exeter from 1955 to 1972. She was awarded Hon. LLD in 1956.The Duchess of Devonshire had an interest in Jacob sheep and kept a flock at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. When a breed society, the Jacob Sheep Society, was formed in July 1969, she became its first president. From 1972 onwards, the society published a flock book.
Marriage and children
On 21 April 1917, Lady Mary was married to Edward Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington. Edward was the eldest son of Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, and his wife, Evelyn Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. In 1938, he succeeded his father as the 10th Duke of Devonshire. They had five children: William John Robert Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington;Andrew Robert Buxton Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire; Lady Mary Cavendish; Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Alice Cavendish; Lady Anne Evelyn Beatrice Cavendish.On 26 November 1950, her husband Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire, had a heart attack and died at Compton Place while being attended by John Bodkin Adams, the suspected serial killer. In the process of transferring his assets to his son, the death of the Duke fell 10 weeks prior to the end of a required 5-year period, and his estate was subjected to taxes of 80%.