Peregrine Andrew Morny Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire, KCVO, CBE (born April 27, 1944), is a British peer. He is the only surviving son of the 11th Duke of Devonshire and his wife, the former Deborah Mitford. He succeeded to the dukedom following the death of his father on 3 May 2004. Prior to this succession, he was styled Marquess of Hartington.

 

Education

He attended Eton College and Exeter College, Oxford, where he read History.

 

Horse racing

The Duke is well known in the world of horse racing and serves as Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot and chairman of Ascot Racecourse Ltd. In 1980 he was elected to the Jockey Club and in 1989 he was appointed its Senior Steward (that is, Chairman). During his five-year term of office, he oversaw a number of changes within the racing industry, in particular the creation of the British Horseracing Board which is now the governing authority for British racing. He was appointed first Chairman of the Board in June 1993 and retired at the end of his term in 1996. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to racing in 1997 and Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2009 New Year Honours for his services as Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot.

 

Other interests

He was appointed a Trustee of the Wallace Collection in 2007. He is a trustee of Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust. He is Chairman of the Devonshire Arms Hotel Group and Deputy Chairman of Sotheby's. He collects modern British and contemporary painting and sculpture, as well as works in other areas. He took up the position as the third Chancellor of the University of Derby at a ceremony on October 28^th, 2008 in Buxton.

 

Family

He married Amanda Heywood-Lonsdale, daughter of Cmdr Edward Gavin Heywood-Lonsdale on 28 June 1967.

They have four children:

• William Cavendish, Earl of Burlington, 1969, known as Bill Burlington
• Lady Celina Cavendish 1971
• Lord Ian Cavendish 1973
• Lady Jasmine Cavendish 1975             

 

Titles & honours

 

Titles from birth

• Earl of Burlington (1944–1950)
• Marquess of Hartington (1950–2004)
• His Grace The Duke of Devonshire (2004–)

 

      Honours

• Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (2008)
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1997)
• Chancellor of the University of Derby (October 2008, a five-year appointment)