Rachel Cavendish, Duchess Of Devonshire

Rachel Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (née Russell), was born in 1674. She was the daughter of William Russell, Lord Russell, and his wife Rachel Wriothesley. Her father was executed for treason in 1683 for his alleged involvement in the Rye House Plot.

In 1688, Rachel Russell married William Cavendish, who was then the Marquess of Hartington and heir apparent to the Dukedom of Devonshire. Following her marriage, she held the courtesy title of Marchioness of Hartington. In 1702, she was appointed as a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Anne.

Rachel and William Cavendish had ten children together. Their offspring included Lady Mary Cavendish (born 18 August 1696, died 15 June 1719), William Cavendish, who became the 3rd Duke of Devonshire (born 26 September 1698, died 5 December 1755), Lady Rachel Cavendish (born 4 October 1699, died 18 June 1780), who married Sir William Morgan on 14 May 1723; Lady Elizabeth Cavendish (born 27 September 1700, died 7 November 1747), who married Sir Thomas Lowther, 2nd Baronet; Lord James Cavendish (born 23 November 1701, died 14 December 1741); Lord Charles Cavendish (born 17 March 1704, died 28 April 1783), who married Anne Grey on 9 January 1727 and was the father of Henry Cavendish; Lady Anne Cavendish, who died aged 70 on 23 August 1780; Lady Katherine Cavendish, who died at age 9 on 12 September 1715; Lord John Cavendish, who died at age 12 on 11 May 1720; and Lady Diana Cavendish, who died on 12 February 1722.

Rachel Cavendish died in 1725.