an English socialite, style icon, author, and activist. Of noble birth from the House of Spencer, married into the House of Cavendish, she was the first wife of William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, and the mother of the 6th Duke of Devonshire. In her life, the duchess was an avid writer and composed a number of works, of both prose and poetry, of which some were published. She composed poetry as a young girl to her father and some of it later circulated in manuscript and even read by Walpole (who said it was "easy and prettily expressed, though it does not express much") and Reverend William Mason (who was more favorable with higher opinions).
