Biography of Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire 1757-1806

On 20th December 1755 [her father] John Spencer 1st Earl Spencer (age 21) and [her mother] Margaret Georgiana Poyntz Countess Spencer (age 18) were married at Althorp House, Northamptonshire [Map]. He the son of [her grandfather] John Spencer and [her grandmother] Georgiana Caroline Carteret (age 39).

On 7th June 1757 Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire was born to John Spencer 1st Earl Spencer (age 22) and Margaret Georgiana Poyntz Countess Spencer (age 20) at Althorp House, Northamptonshire [Map].

Around 1774 Angelica Kauffmann (age 32). Portrait of siblings Georgiana (age 16), [her sister] Henriette (age 12) and [her brother] George (age 15) Spencer.

On 7th June 1774 William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 26) and Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 17) were married in St Mary's Church, Wimbledon. It was her 17th birthday. She by marriage Duchess Devonshire. She the daughter of John Spencer 1st Earl Spencer (age 39) and Margaret Georgiana Poyntz Countess Spencer (age 37). He the son of William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire and Charlotte Elizabeth Boyle Marchioness Hartington. They were fourth cousins.

Around 1775 Joshua Reynolds (age 51). Portrait of Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 17).

In 1775 Daniel Gardner (age 25). Witches Round the Cauldron. Portraits of Elizabeth Milbanke Viscountess Melbourne (age 23), Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 17) and Anne Seymour-Conway (age 26).

Around 1780. John Downman (age 30). Portrait of Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 22).

On 27th February 1782 [her brother-in-law] George Augustus Henry Cavendish 1st Earl Burlington (age 27) and Elizabeth Compton Countess Burlington (age 21) were married at London. She by marriage Countess Burlington. She the daughter of Charles Compton 7th Earl of Northampton and Anne Somerset Countess Northampton. He the son of William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire and Charlotte Elizabeth Boyle Marchioness Hartington. They were fourth cousins.

In 1783 Thomas Gainsborough (age 55). Portrait of Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 25).

On 12th July 1783 [her daughter] Georgiana Cavendish Countess Carlisle was born to [her husband] William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 35) and Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 26).

On 31st October 1783 [her father] John Spencer 1st Earl Spencer (age 48) died at Bath, Somerset [Map]. He was buried at St Mary the Virgin Church, Great Brington, Northamptonshire. His son [her brother] George (age 25) succeeded 2nd Earl Spencer, 2nd Viscount Althorp, 2nd Viscount Spencer, 2nd Baron Spencer Althorp. Lavinia Bingham Countess Spencer (age 21) by marriage Countess Spencer.

On 29th August 1785 [her daughter] Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville was born to [her husband] William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 37) and Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 28) at Devonshire House [Map].

Around 1786 Thomas Gainsborough (age 58). Portrait of Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 28).

On 21st May 1790 [her son] William Cavendish 6th Duke Devonshire was born to [her husband] William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 42) and Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 32) at Paris [Map].

On 20th February 1792 [her illegitimate daughter] Eliza Courtenay was born illegitimately to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 27) and Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 34) at Aix en Provence whilst she, Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire was married to [her husband] William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 44). The Duchess was forced to relinquish the child shortly after her birth, to be raised by Charles Grey's parents, Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey (age 62) and Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey (age 48). The surname Courtenay was derived from her great-uncle, her maternal grandmother's brother, [her uncle] William Poyntz (age 57).

On 3rd June 1794 [her sister-in-law] Dorothy Cavendish 3rd Duchess Portland (age 43) died. She was buried at St Marylebone Church.

On 21st March 1801 [her son-in-law] George Howard 6th Earl Carlisle (age 27) and [her daughter] Georgiana Cavendish Countess Carlisle (age 17) were married. She the daughter of [her husband] William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 53) and Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 43). He the son of Frederick Howard 5th Earl Carlisle (age 52) and Margaret Caroline Leveson-Gower Countess Carlisle. They were fourth cousins.

On 30th March 1806 Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 48) died at Devonshire House [Map]. She was buried at Derby Cathedral [Map]. Her husband [her husband] William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 58), her mother [her mother] Margaret Georgiana Poyntz Countess Spencer (age 68), her sister [her sister] Henrietta Frances Spencer Countess Bessborough (age 44) and her eight months pregnant daughter [her daughter] Georgiana Cavendish Countess Carlisle (age 22) were present, as was Elizabeth Christiana Hervey Duchess Devonshire (age 48), her husband's mistress and future wife.

In 1809 [her former husband] William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 61) and Elizabeth Christiana Hervey Duchess Devonshire (age 51) were married. She by marriage Duchess Devonshire. She the daughter of Frederick Augustus Hervey 4th Earl Bristol and Elizabeth Davers Countess Bristol. He the son of William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire and Charlotte Elizabeth Boyle Marchioness Hartington. They were sixth cousins.

On 29th July 1811 [her former husband] William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 63) died. His son [her son] William (age 21) succeeded 6th Duke Devonshire, 9th Earl Devonshire, 9th Baron Cavendish Hardwick, 8th Baron Clifford.

On 12th October 1817 [her granddaughter] Georgiana Ellice was born to [her son-in-law] Robert Charles Ellice (age 32) and [her illegitimate daughter] Eliza Courtenay (age 25). Named after her maternal grandmother Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire.