Description: Knight of the Garter and was created Earl of Devonshire on 21 July 1603 by James I of England.
Married Lady Penelope Rich (1563û1607) in December 1605 with whom he had been lovers with since 1590; despite her marriage to Robert, Lord Rich. They had five (illigitimate) children and the marriage caused scandal enough for him to be considered a social pariah. The King stripped him off the Earldom.
No connection to Derbyshire, nor the Cavendishes; William Cavendish bought the title of the Earl of Devonshire in 1618 for a reported sum of £10,000 and the Dukes of Devonshire stem from this.
This image is one of a collection by the famous local antiquarian, Thomas Bateman, of Middleton by Youlgreave. (1821-1861). Bateman organized his collection by inserting them into a 4 volume copy of Lysons Magna Britannia, Derbyshire, creating a fascinating and unique illustrated record of the county. The purchase of the collection for Derbyshire Libraries was made possible by the generous bequest of Miss Frances Webb of Whaley Bridge, well known local historian, who died in December 2006.