William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire

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William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, KG, PC (21 May 1790 – 18 January 1858), was known as the "Bachelor Duke".

Born in Paris, he became Duke of Devonshire at the age of 21 on the death of his father in 1811. His mother, Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, had died in 1806. Along with the title he inherited eight stately homes and 200,000 acres (809 km²) of land. He went on to improve his houses and gardens (including the rebuilding of the village of Edensor) and travelled extensively.

He was Lord Chamberlain to King William IV and a close friend of Czar Nicholas I of Russia. Among his friends were also Antonio Canova, Charles Dickens, and his head gardener, Sir Joseph Paxton.

The 6th Duke had two sisters, both of whom married well. One of his nieces Lady Blanche Howard married his heir presumptive, the 2nd Earl of Burlington (grandson of Lord George Cavendish, created 1st Earl of Burlington, younger brother of the 5th Duke), and thus their children were also great-grandchildren of the 5th Duke. Unfortunately, Lady Burlington died young. Her widower did not remarry, even when he succeeded the 6th Duke in 1858.

Much of the 6th Duke's private correspondence, including letters to his mistresses (one of whom he installed nearby), was destroyed by his Victorian relatives. The Duke is said to have wanted to marry The Princess Mary, a daughter of George III, but she preferred to marry her Royal cousin the 2nd Duke of Gloucester (son of her uncle by his wife, who was born an illegitimate commoner).

The Duke had no children so when he died, at the age of 67, the dukedom passed to his cousin William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Burlington.

There is a biography by James Lees-Milne: The Bachelor Duke: Life of William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, 1790-1858 (1991). John Murray. ISBN 0-7195-4920-5

v • d • e Ancestors of William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire

16. William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire               8. William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire                       17. Rachel Russell               4. William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire                             18. John Hoskins               9. Catherine Hoskins                       19. Catherine Hale               2. William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire                                   20. Charles Boyle, 2nd Earl of Burlington               10. Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington                       21. Juliana Noel               5. Charlotte Boyle, 6th Baroness Clifford                             22. William Savile, 2nd Marquess of Halifax               11. Dorothy Savile                       23. Mary Finch               1. William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire                                         24. Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland               12. John Spencer                       25. Anne Churchill               6. John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer                             26. John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville               13. Georgina Carolina Carteret                       27. Frances Worsley               3. Georgiana Spencer                                   28. William Poyntz               14. Stephen Poyntz                       29. Jane Monteage               7. Margaret Georgiana Poyntz                             30. Lewis Mordaunt               15. Anna Maria Mordaunt                       31. Mary Collyer

Political offices
Preceded by The Duke of Montrose	Lord Chamberlain 1827–1828	Succeeded by The Duke of Montrose
Preceded by The Earl of Jersey	Lord Chamberlain 1830–1834	Succeeded by The Earl of Jersey
Honorary titles
Preceded by The Duke of Devonshire	Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire 1811–1858	Succeeded by The Duke of Devonshire
Peerage of England
Preceded by William Cavendish	Duke of Devonshire 1811–1858	Succeeded by William Cavendish
	Baron Clifford 1811–1858	Succeeded by Abeyant