On This Day

23 July 1833

Birth of Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire, leader of three political parties

Known as the Marquess of Hartington between 1858-91, a ‘violently moderate’ individual and leader of the Liberal Party during Gladstone’s temporary retirement from politics, 1876-1880. He served as Whig, later Liberal then Liberal Unionist MP for North Lancashire 1857-68, Radnor 1869-80, North East Lancashire 1880-85 and Rossendale 1885-91. He was later the 8th Duke of Devonshire and almost certainly the only individual to be offered the post of Prime Minister three times and to have refused it every time. He was also the leader of three political parties, Liberal (1875-1880), Liberal Unionist (1886-1903) and the Unionist Party in the Lords (1902-03).