Biography of Georgiana Cavendish

The game of beauty

7 June 1757
30 March 1806
Lady Georgiana Spencer, remembered by history as Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, was born at Althorp (England) on day 7 June 1757. She was the first wife of William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire and mother of William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire. John Spencer, the father, was the Earl Spencer, a descendant of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. His brother George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer, was a whig politician. Lady Diana Spencer is a direct descendant of his brother. It is remembered for its remarkable beauty, his charisma noncheé the great charm. Historians seem to agree that it was a figure capable of with their own style to dictate fashion of the time, at least in England, as no other his contemporary did. Several films have chronicled his life: "The Divine Lady" (1929, played by Evelyn Hall), "Mrs Fitzherbert (1947, played by Mary Clare), and most recently" the Duchess "(2008, by Saul Dibb) to assume the role of Georgiana Cavendish is Keira Knightley (the latter film was based on the biography" Georgiana, "written by Amanda Foreman). The cosmopolitan character of the Duchess Cavendish, ensured a circle of writers and politicians around him.
She was also active in politics, something quite unusual for a woman in the age. Both the Spencer family that Cavendish were strenuous Whig supporters. During the 1784 general election, spread a rumor that the Duchess had exchanged kisses in return for votes; for this reason, it has been the subject of a famous satire by Thomas Rowlandson. Georgiana married the Duke of Devonshire, the day 6 June 1774. The marriage is unhappy because of strong character incompatibility. The initial inability to get pregnant the young Duchess soon became of great concern; It should be emphasized as aristocratic women, and wives, at that time were considered more value for their feritilità their dowry or for their family ties. Georgiana has numerous miscarriages before giving birth to two daughters and, finally, the long awaited male child, who will also be the only one.
The latter is William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790-1858), who would later come to the end of his life Bachelor and childless. The Duchess is the person presenting Lady Elizabeth Foster to her husband; This will become his mistress and, after the death of Georgiana, his second wife. "Bess" was best friends with Georgiana, q and the latter for many years must undergo and tolerate the relationship that the husband has with her. On the other hand also the Duchess has a parallel relationship: the lover is Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, by whom he had a child in 1792, Eliza Courtney (ancestor of Sarah, Duchess of York). Lady Elizabeth Foster will have two sons by the Duke, one male and one female. Another aspect that the Duchess is known, is his love for the game, which leads her to a lifetime of debt, despite the aid of wealthy family. Among his many travels he met and become good friend of Queen Marie Antoinette of France, as well as its companion, Duchesse de Polignac. There is a story that describes how beautiful, or so considered, the Duchess of Devonshire: while she was descending from his carriage, one Irish Dustman exclaimed: "God bless you, my Lady. Let me light my pipe with your eyes!"; It's a compliment which she often reminded when someone else is complimenting her, retorting with the words: "After the street sweeper compliment, all others are trivial". Georgiana Cavendish died in London on 30 March 1806, aged 48 years.
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