DEVONSHIRE

devonshire, earls and dukes of. the devonshire title, now in the cavendish family, had previously been held by charles blount (1563-1606), 8th lord mountjoy, great-grandson of the 4th lord mountjoy (d. 1534), the pupil of erasmus; he was created earl of devonshire in 1603 for his services in ireland, where he became famous in subduing the rebellion between 1600 and 1603; but the title became extinct at his death. in the cavendish line the 1st earl of devonshire was william (d. 1626), second son of sir william cavendish (q.v.), and of elizabeth hardwick, who afterwards married the 6th earl of shrewsbury. he was created earl of devonshire in 1618 by james i., and was succeeded by william, 2nd earl (1591-1628), and the latter by his son william (1617-1684), a prominent royalist, and one of the original members of the royal society, who married a daughter of the 2nd earl of salisbury.