Rachel Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire


Rachel Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, was a British noblewoman and the wife of William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire.

Biography

Rachel Russell was born in 1674, the daughter of William Russell, Lord Russell, and his wife Rachel. In 1683, Russell's father was executed for treason for his alleged role in the Rye House Plot.
In 1688, Russell married William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, heir apparent to the Dukedom of Devonshire. Under her courtesy title Marchioness of Hartington, Cavendish was made a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Anne in 1702. She died in 1725.
The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire had ten children:
  1. Lady Mary Cavendish
  2. William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
  3. Lady Rachel Cavendish married Sir William Morgan on 14 May 1723
  4. Lady Elizabeth Cavendish married Sir Thomas Lowther, 2nd Baronet
  5. Lord James Cavendish
  6. Lord Charles Cavendish married Anne Grey on 9 January 1727, father of Henry Cavendish
  7. Lady Anne Cavendish
  8. Lady Katherine Cavendish
  9. Lord John Cavendish
  10. Lady Diana Cavendish