William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
(1790-1858), Lord ChamberlainRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 14 portraits
The son of William and Georgiana, Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Cavendish succeeded to the dukedom in 1811. He never married, earning him the epithet the 'Bachelor Duke'. Although he was a Whig grandee and served as Lord Chamberlain to both George IV and William IV, Devonshire's interests were primarily cultural. He was one of Landseer's most important patrons.
The Trial of Queen Caroline 1820
by Sir George Hayter
oil on canvas, 1820-1823
NPG 999
William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
by Sir Edwin Landseer
pen and wash, circa 1832
NPG 4916
William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire ('A view of Devonshire')
by and published by Richard Dighton, reissued by Thomas McLean
hand-coloured etching, published October 1820
NPG D8736
William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
by and published by Richard Dighton
hand-coloured etching, published October 1820
NPG D8757
William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
by and published by Richard Dighton
hand-coloured etching, published October 1820
NPG D13513
William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
by Richard Dighton, published by Thomas McLean
hand-coloured etching, published 1825
NPG D13638
William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
by George Edward Madeley
lithograph, circa 1826-1841
NPG D15276
Diogenese in Search of an Honest Ministry
by Henry Heath, published by Thomas McLean
hand-coloured etching, published 30 April 1827
NPG D46030
'The Presentation of Dollalolla accompanied by the Mighty Thumb'
by William Heath, published by Thomas McLean
hand-coloured etching, published circa April 1828
NPG D48715
'The Presentation of Dollalolla accompanied by the Mighty Thumb'
by William Heath, published by Thomas McLean
hand-coloured etching, published circa April 1828
NPG D48716
A Grateful Specimen of The Retort Courteous
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Charles Etienne Pierre Motte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 12 August 1831
NPG D41083
The Breaking Up of the Half Crown-ation
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Charles Etienne Pierre Motte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 23 September 1831
NPG D41091
My Last New Step (William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire)
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 29 April 1836
NPG D41367
William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
by Charles Baugniet, printed by M & N Hanhart
lithograph, 1852
NPG D35160
Related People
- Henrietta Frances ('Harriet') Ponsonby (née Spencer), Countess of Bessborough (aunt)
- Georgiana Dorothy (née Cavendish), Countess of Carlisle (sister)
- George William Frederick Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle (nephew)
- Lord Richard Cavendish (nephew)
- William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire (father)
- Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire (mother)
- Georgiana Agar-Ellis (née Howard), Baroness Dover (niece)
- Henrietta Elizabeth ('Harriet') Leveson-Gower (née Cavendish), Countess Granville (sister)
- Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville (nephew)
- Lady Elizabeth Dorothy Anne Georgiana Grey (née Howard) (niece)
- Lady Caroline Georgiana Lascelles (née Howard) (niece)
- Hon. (Edward) Frederick Leveson-Gower (nephew)
- John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer (grandfather)
- (Margaret) Georgiana Spencer (née Poyntz), Countess Spencer (grandmother)
- George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (uncle)
- Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Leveson-Gower (née Howard), Duchess of Sutherland (niece)
- Mary Matilda Georgiana Labouchere (née Howard), Lady Taunton (niece)
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.