CAVENDISH, William II (1551-1626), of Chatsworth and Hardwick, Derbys.

b. 27 Dec. 1551, 2nd s. of Sir William Cavendish by his 3rd w. and bro. of Sir Charles and Henry Cavendish. educ. Eton 1560; Clare, Camb. 1567; G. 1572. m. (1) 21 Mar. 1582, Anne, da. and coh. of Henry Keighley of Keighley, Yorks., 3s. 3da.; (2) Elizabeth, da. of Edward Boughton of Cawston, Warws., wid. of Sir Richard Wortley, 1s. ?; ?Kntd. 1580;The above work and CP both state that Cavendish was knighted in 1580. Shaw, Knights, give a William Cavendish (no further description or address) as knighted in that year. The identification of this William Cavendish as the 2nd s. of Sir William Cavendish is suggested by the fact that Charles Cavendish, the 3rd s. was knighted some two years afterwards, i.e. the brothers were knighted in the right order of seniority. But Sir Charles is regularly so-called after 1582, whereas William’s name is not prefixed by ’Sir’ after 1580. Even in 1605 when he was trying to buy his peerage in London he is still plain William Cavendish (HMC Shrewsbury and Talbot, ii. 242). True enough the Elizabethans were slack about using titles, but it is straining credulity to suppose that William’s knighthood would invariably be overlooked had he received one. The parliamentary returns for 1586 and 1588 describe the man or men elected as ’esquire’. No other William Cavendish has been traced who might be the recipient of Shaw’s knighthood, and in view of William’s known thirst for honours, it is difficult to believe that Charles was knighted and he was not. The matter must remain open. cr. Baron Cavendish May 1605; Earl of Devonshire 1618.