8th Duke of Devonshire KG, GCVO, PC, PC (Ire), British statesman, previously known (1858–1891), while heir to the Dukedom, as Marquess of Hartington - a courtesy title - as this was not a peerage in its own right he was free to sit in the House of Commons, as was not uncommon for the sons of peers at the time. He has the distinction of having served as leader of three political parties (in succession- as Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Commons, 1875–1880; of the Liberal Unionist Party (1886–1903); and of the Unionists in the House of Lords (1902–1903), though the Conservatives and Liberal Unionists operated in close alliance from 1892–1903 and would eventually merge in 1912). He also declined to become Prime Minister on three occasions, not because he was not a serious politician but because the circumstances were never right. He entered Parliament in 1857. Between 1863 and 1874 Hartington held various Government posts, including Lord of the Admiralty and under-secretary for war under Palmerston and Earl Russell, then postmaster-general, and Chief Secretary for Ireland in Gladstone's first government. In 1880, after Disraeli's government lost the General Election, Hartington was invited to form a government, but declined - as did the Earl Granville, Liberal Leader in the House of Lords - after William Ewart Gladstone made it clear that he would not serve under anybody else. After the General Election in 1886 Hartington declined to become Prime Minister, preferring instead to hold the balance of power in the House of Commons and give support from the back benches to the second Conservative government of Lord Salisbury. Early in 1887, after the resignation of Lord Randolph Churchill, Lord Salisbury offered to step down and serve in a government under Hartington, who now declined the premiership for the third time.
8th Duke of Devonshire KG, GCVO, PC, PC (Ire), British statesman, previously known (1858–1891), while heir to the Dukedom, as Marquess of Hartington - a courtesy title - as this was not a peerage in its own right he was free to sit in the House of Commons, as was not uncommon for the sons of peers at the time. He has the distinction of having served as leader of three political parties (in succession- as Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Commons, 1875–1880; of the Liberal Unionist Party (1886–1903); and of the Unionists in the House of Lords (1902–1903), though the Conservatives and Liberal Unionists operated in close alliance from 1892–1903 and would eventually merge in 1912). He also declined to become Prime Minister on three occasions, not because he was not a serious politician but because the circumstances were never right. He entered Parliament in 1857. Between 1863 and 1874 Hartington held various Government posts, including Lord of the Admiralty and under-secretary for war under Palmerston and Earl Russell, then postmaster-general, and Chief Secretary for Ireland in Gladstone's first government. In 1880, after Disraeli's government lost the General Election, Hartington was invited to form a government, but declined - as did the Earl Granville, Liberal Leader in the House of Lords - after William Ewart Gladstone made it clear that he would not serve under anybody else. After the General Election in 1886 Hartington declined to become Prime Minister, preferring instead to hold the balance of power in the House of Commons and give support from the back benches to the second Conservative government of Lord Salisbury. Early in 1887, after the resignation of Lord Randolph Churchill, Lord Salisbury offered to step down and serve in a government under Hartington, who now declined the premiership for the third time.
Bio by: julia&keld
Inscription
Grave No. 8C005
IN EVERLASTING MEMORY
OF
SPENCER COMPTON
8TH DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE
ERECTED BY LOUISE HIS WIFE
"PEACE PERFECT PEACE"
DIED 24 MARCH 1908
AND LOUISE, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE,
DIED 15 JULY 1911.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grave No. 0A013
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMROY OF
SPENCER COMPTON CAVENDISH
8TH DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE
THE REREDOS
WAS GIVEN BY THE PARISHIONERS
OF EDENSOR AND THE TENANTS
ON THE CHATSWORTH ESTATE
DECEMBER 1909
Family Members
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