William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire (1748-1811), Lord High Treasurer of Ireland
Sitter in 7 portraits
The 5th Duke is best known for his first wife Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. He came from one of the wealthiest and most powerful Whig families, but was neither particularly ambitious nor particularly able. He was married twice: first, to Lady Georgiana Spencer; and subsequently to Lady Elizabeth Foster, nee Hervey, daughter of the 4th Earl of Bristol, who had been his mistress and his first wife's friend and confidante in a ménage à trois for more than twenty years. He served as Lord Treasurer of Ireland from 1764 until 1793.
The Death of the Earl of Chatham
by John Singleton Copley
oil on canvas, 1779-1781
On display in Room 14 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L146
by William Lane
black crayon with red and white heightening on tinted paper, circa 1813
NPG 2076
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 1808
NPG D13723
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
by W.T. Holland, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1865
NPG D2269
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
by John Raphael Smith, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1776
NPG D1752
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire; Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire
by Noble, published by Alexander Hogg, after Dodd
line engraving, published 30 April 1787
NPG D15512
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
by Henry Bone, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, August 1811 (exhibited 1776)
NPG D17684
Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire
Category
Politics, Government and Diplomacy
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Founders of the Royal Institute of Great Britain
Regency Whigs
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