Below, Evelyn Fitzmaurice, Duchess of Devonshire (1870-1960), painted in Hardwick Hall, 1950, by Edward Irvine Halliday (1902–1984).
Evelyn, Duchess of Devonshire, is shown working on one of the tapestries. She is attributed with preserving the Hardwick Collection, which is one of the finest in Britain, now cared for by the National Trust.
Below, Lady Evelyn Cavendish portrayed by John Singer Sargent in 1902 before her husband Victor Cavendish inherited the ducal title from his uncle Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonsire, in 1908. Widowed in 1938, Evelyn lived for many years at Hardwick Hall after her son, Edward, eldest of her seven children, inherited the dukdom as the 10th Duke of Devonshire.
Below, Lady Evelyn Cavendish portrayed by John Singer Sargent in 1902 before her husband Victor Cavendish inherited the ducal title from his uncle Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonsire, in 1908. Widowed in 1938, Evelyn lived for many years at Hardwick Hall after her son, Edward, eldest of her seven children, inherited the dukdom as the 10th Duke of Devonshire.
Below, left, Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, and Duchess Evelyn. Right, Queen Mary, seated, and Evelyn, center rear, Mistress of the Robes to Queen Mary. Click to enlarge.
Lady Evelyn Emily Mary Petty-Fitzmaurice was born in 1870, daughter of the Marquess of Lansdowne. She married Victor Cavendish in 1892 when he was a newly-seated member of the House of Commons. Both members of distinguished British families, they led busy lives of service, bringing seven children into the world as well. Victor succeeded to the dukedom in 1909. Below left, Duchess Evelyn with three of her children, before 1909; right, Duchess Evelyn with her grandchildren, 1929.
The 9th Duke of Devonshire, below left, was Governor General of Canada from 1916 to 1921 and his family accompanied him. He was a member of the Cabinet before retiring in 1925, after a severe stroke; He died in 1938. Right, Evelyn, Duchess of Devonshire, Mistress of the Robes to Queen Mary, 1908.
In addition to many other activites, Duchess Evelyn founded the Derbyshire branch of the Red Cross. She served as Queen Mary's Mistress of the Robes from 1910 to 1916 and after her stay in Canada, from 1921 to Queen Marys death in 1953.
After her husbands death, the Dowager Duchess moved into Hardwick Hall, becoming the last resident of Bess of Hardwick's mansion. She was an accomplished needlewoman and spent a great deal of time mending and repairing the textiles as Hardwick.
Her son, the 10th Duke, served in WWI and was a member of Churchill's Cabinet during WWII. He and his wife had five children. William, eldest son and heir appparent, married Katherine "Kick" Kennedy in 1944. Her brother John F, Kennedy was elected president of the United States in 1960. Below, left to right, Deborah Mitford Cavendish (eventually Duchess of Devonshire), Duchess Evelyn, Kick Kennedy.
Her son, the 10th Duke, served in WWI and was a member of Churchill's Cabinet during WWII. He and his wife had five children. William, eldest son and heir appparent, married Katherine "Kick" Kennedy in 1944. Her brother John F, Kennedy was elected president of the United States in 1960. Below, left to right, Deborah Mitford Cavendish (eventually Duchess of Devonshire), Duchess Evelyn, Kick Kennedy.
Only a few months after the wedding, William was killed in action in September 1944. His brother Andrew became the heir and in 1950. the 11th Duke of Devonshire. As part of the more than £7 million (nearly 80 per cent of the value of the estate) inheritance taxes he had to pay, Hardwick Hall became the government's property, eventually part of the National Trust which operates the estate today.
Duchess Evelyn occupied rooms in Hardwick Hall from 1938 to her death in 1960. In the past few years, they have been opened to visitors, displaying even more of her treasured textiles from the Hardwick Collection.
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