William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
(1748-1811), Lord High Treasurer of IrelandMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 8 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
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
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
Death of the Earl of Chatham (includes William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham and 55 other sitters)
by Francesco Bartolozzi, after John Singleton Copley
line engraving, published 1791
NPG D18117
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 1808
NPG D13723
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
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
by W.T. Holland, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1865
NPG D2269
Related People
- Lord William Cavendish Bentinck (nephew)
- Georgiana Dorothy (née Cavendish), Countess of Carlisle (daughter)
- George William Frederick Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle (grandson)
- Lord Richard Cavendish (brother)
- William Cavendish (nephew)
- Charles Compton Cavendish, 1st Baron Chesham (nephew)
- William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire (grandfather)
- Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire (wife)
- Elizabeth Christiana Cavendish (née Hervey), Duchess of Devonshire (wife)
- William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (son)
- Georgiana Agar-Ellis (née Howard), Baroness Dover (granddaughter)
- Lady Anne Fitzroy (née Cavendish) (niece)
- Henrietta Elizabeth ('Harriet') Leveson-Gower (née Cavendish), Countess Granville (daughter)
- Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville (grandson)
- Lady Elizabeth Dorothy Anne Georgiana Grey (née Howard) (granddaughter)
- Lady Caroline Georgiana Lascelles (née Howard) (granddaughter)
- Hon. (Edward) Frederick Leveson-Gower (grandson)
- Dorothy Bentinck (née Cavendish), Duchess of Portland (sister)
- William Henry Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland (nephew)
- Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Leveson-Gower (née Howard), Duchess of Sutherland (granddaughter)
- Mary Matilda Georgiana Labouchere (née Howard), Lady Taunton (granddaughter)
Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.