Biography.guide
Home › People › Politician › Henry Cavendish
Portrait of Henry Cavendish

Henry Cavendish

1789 – 1873

British politician

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Henry Cavendish

Lived 1789 – 1873 (aged 83). Henry Cavendish was a British politician.

General Henry Frederick Compton Cavendish (5 November 1789 – 5 April 1873) was a British Army officer, politician and courtier.

Early life and career Cavendish was born in Westminster, the third son of George Cavendish, 1st Earl of Burlington and Lady Elizabeth Compton, daughter and heiress of the 7th Earl of Northampton. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 10th Dragoons in 1808 and was deployed to Spain and was wounded at the Battle of Corunna in January 1809 during the Peninsular War.

Marriages and issue He married three times:

Firstly, on 24 October 1811, he married Sarah Fawkener (27 May 1789 – November 1817), daughter of William Augustus Fawkener. She inherited £40,000 from her father. They had four children: Elizabeth Georgiana Harriett Cavendish (12 January 1812 – 3 January 1892), married first William Bernard Harcourt, Marquis d'Harcourt, and second Lt.-Gen. James Robertson Craufurd Sarah Mary Compton Cavendish (27 August 1813 – 21 April 1881), married John Campbell, 2nd Earl Cawdor and had issue Rachel Cavendish (1815 – 31 July 1816) Lt.-Col. William Henry Frederick Cavendish (31 October 1817 – 11 March 1881), married Lady Emily Augusta Lambton, daughter of John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, and had issue

On 16 June 1819, he married secondly, Frances Susan Lambton (died 23 November 1840), daughter of William Henry Lambton, sister of John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham and widow of Frederick Howard (killed in action at Waterloo). They had six children: Francis William Henry Cavendish (6 February 1820 – 12 January 1893), married firstly, Lady Eleanor FitzGibbon, daughter of Richard FitzGibbon, 3rd Earl of Clare, and married second Ianthe Skyring, with issue by both. Henry Charles Lambton Cavendish (7 May 1821 – 6 October 1839) Rev. Charles William Cavendish (24 September 1822 – 21 December 1890), married first Felicia Susan Lygon, daughter of Henry Lygon, 4th Earl Beauchamp, without issue, married second Louisa Cockburn, natural daughter of Sir Alexander Cockburn, 12th Baronet, with issue, and married third Mary Gregg, with issue. George Henry Cavendish (9 January 1824 – 21 January 1889), married Emily Victorine Elizabeth Rumbold, Freifrau von Delmar, daughter of Sir William Rumbold, 3rd Baronet, and had issue Augustus John Cavendish (13 September 1825 – 2 October 1825) Caroline Fanny Cavendish (11 November 1826 – 25 January 1910), maid of honour to Queen Victoria, member of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, fourth class

On 28 January 1873, he married Susanna Emma Byerlie (died c. 1910), and died two months later.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
Eton College, Trinity College
Positions held
Member of the 11th Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 10th Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 5th Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 6th Parliament of the United Kingdom
Also known as
General Hon. Henry Frederick Compton Cavendish, Gen. Hon. Frederick Compton Cavendish

People in Henry Cavendish's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Henry Cavendish's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Henry Cavendish?

British politician

When was Henry Cavendish born?

Henry Cavendish was born on 5 November 1789 in Westminster.

When did Henry Cavendish die?

Henry Cavendish died on 5 April 1873 in Westminster.

What was Henry Cavendish's occupation?

Henry Cavendish was a politician.

What nationality was Henry Cavendish?

Henry Cavendish was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Henry Cavendish

· Wikidata: Q5719237

· DBpedia: Henry Cavendish (British Army officer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry Cavendish. https://biography.guide/henry-cavendish/

MLA: "Henry Cavendish." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-cavendish/.

Chicago: "Henry Cavendish." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-cavendish/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:02 UTC