Preceded by None | Name Mary Duchess | |
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Born 25 July 1895Hatfield, Hertfordshire ( 1895-07-25 ) Parents James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury Children Andrew Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, Lady Elizabeth Cavendish Siblings Lord David Cecil, Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury Similar People Edward Cavendish - 10th Duk, William Cavendish - Marquess, Andrew Cavendish - 11th Duk, Victor Cavendish - 9th Duke, Lady Elizabeth Cavendish | ||
Mary Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, (29 July 1895 – 24 December 1988) was the Duchess of Devonshire from 1938 until her husband's death, and dowager duchess thereafter.
She was born Lady Mary Alice Gascoyne-Cecil in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, the daughter of James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury. She was married on 21 April 1917 to Edward Cavendish, Lord Hartington, who succeeded his father as 10th Duke of Devonshire in 1938, whereupon Mary became Duchess of Devonshire. She was Mistress of the Robes to Elizabeth II from 1953 to 1967 and Chancellor of the University of Exeter from 1955 to 1972. She was awarded Hon. LLD (Exon) in 1956.
Husband
On 26 November 1950, her husband Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire, had a heart attack and died while being attended by John Bodkin Adams, the suspected serial killer. In the process of transferring his assets to his son, the death of the Duke fell 10 weeks prior to a required 5-year period, and his estate was subjected to taxes of 80%. His widow died in Westminster, London, aged 93.