A Knight of the Garter, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Fellow of the Society fo Antiquaries, he was happiest in his library and content to leave politics to his brother, Lord John Cavendish, who
became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1782 and 1783. When he decided to marry Charlotte Boyle, his mother's determined objection caused great unhappiness in their family. However, they did marry, thereby bringing great happiness to himself while she lived and greatly enriching his family's already vast possessions. He began the tradition of calling their children exclusively by nicknames, such as
"Mrs. Tiddle, Mrs. Hopeful, Puss, Cat and Toe". However, by the time he succeeded as Duke of Devonshire, she had died from smallpox; he never remarried.
So great was his wealth and vast his estates, that he is said to have controlled twelve seats in Parliament. Like his father before him, he was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, which gave him an
opportunity of visiting the Irish estates inherited from his father-in-law. Unambitious, he nevertheless carried out his duties efficiently and without discord.
In 1756 the Government was crumbling and, when Charles James Fox resigned as Secretary of State in October 1756, Pitt recommended to the King that Devonshire should be made Prime Minister. Devonshire was approached by the King and, after five days of pleading by George II, he accepted on the condition that he would feel free to resign if he found that he "disliked the employment". However, in July 1757, Pitt resigned which caused the collapse of the Government.
In 1763, King George III asked him to attend a Privy Council to discuss the terms of peace with Spain. Devonshire declined, saying that he did not know enough about the subject. When the Duke went to
Court to take leave before going to Chatsworth, the King refused to see him, the message reaching Devonshire by way of a page. The Duke tore off the gold key, which was his badge of office as Chamberlain, and departed in a rage. With his own hand the King struck his name from the list of Privy Councillors.
It had been the intention of the King and Lord Bute to humiliate the Duke of Devonshire but the last word lay with Devonshire, for it was at a dinner party in his London house that the opposition to the
government's Cider Tax was planned and this contributed towards Bute's resignation in 1763. However, aged forty-four, the Duke died on 2 October 1764 at Spa, in Germany.

Source: Leo van de Pas