Philip Cavendish

Admiral Philip Cavendish (died 1743) of Westbury, Hampshire, was a Royal Navy officer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1721 and 1743. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.[1]

Philip Cavendish
Born	?
Died	14 June 1743
Allegiance	Great Britain
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1694–1743
Rank	Admiral of the Blue
Commands held	Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth

Biography

Cavendish was the illegitimate son of William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire M.P . He joined the navy and was a lieutenant RN in 1694 and captain in 1701. From 1705 he was porter of St James's Palace. He married Anne Carteret, daughter of Edward Carteret.[2] In 1719 he led a British squadron at the Battle of Cape St Vincent.

Cavendish was put forward to succeed his father-in-law, Edward Carteret, as Member of Parliament for Bere Alston on the Hobart interest. He was elected at a by-election on 29 April 1721 but was unseated on petition on 6 June 1721. He was returned unopposed as MP for St. Germans on the Government interest at the 1722 general election. He did not obtain a seat at the 1727 general election although his father-in-law tried to put him forward for Harwich. In 1728 he became a rear-admiral, and in 1732 a vice-admiral.[2]

At the 1734 election, Cavendish was returned unopposed with Sir Charles Wager as MP for Portsmouth on the Admiralty interest. He voted consistently with the Government. In 1736 he was promoted to Admiral and was also promoted to serjeant-porter of St James's Palace, holding the office for the rest of his life. At the 1741 general election he was elected in a contest as MP for Portsmouth. After Walpole's fall he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty as a naval member of Board of Admiralty in March 1742 and was classed as ‘for Pelham’ in October 1742.[2]

Cavendish died without issue on 14 July 1743.[2]

Flag rank appointments

Included:[1]

• 1727–1728, Rear-Admiral of the Blue
• 1728–1729, Rear-Admiral of the White
• 1729–1732, Rear-Admiral of the Red
• 1732–1733 Vice-Admiral of the Blue
• 1733–1735 Vice-Admiral of the Red
• 1735–1743 Admiral of the Blue

References

1. Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 16 February 2019.CS1 maint: date format (link)
2. "CAVENDISH, Philip (d.1743), of Westbury, Hants". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 18 December 2018.

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Lawrence Carter Edward Carteret	Member of Parliament for Bere Alston 1721 With: Lawrence Carter	Succeeded by Lawrence Carter St John Brodrick
Preceded by Lord Stanhope John Knight	Member of Parliament for St Germans 1722–1727 With: Lord Binning	Succeeded by Sir Gilbert Heathcote Sidney Godolphin
Preceded by Sir Charles Wager Sir John Norris	Member of Parliament for Portsmouth 1734–1743 With: Thomas Lewis 1734–1737 Charles Stewart 1737–1741 Edward Vernon 1741 Martin Bladen 1741–1743	Succeeded by Martin Bladen Sir Charles Hardy