THOMAS, of Suffolk, the second Englishman that sailed round the globe, was descended from a noble family in Devonshire. Having dissipated his fortune, he resolved to repair it at the expense of the Spaniards. He sailed from Plymouth with two small ships in July 1586; passed through the straits of Magellan; took many rich prizes along the coasts of Chili and Peru; and near California, possessed himself of the St Ann, an Acapulco ship, with a cargo of immense value. He completed the circumnavigation of the globe, returning home round the Cape of Good Hope, and reached Plymouth again in September 1588. On his arrival, it is said that his soldiers and sailors were clothed in silk, his sails were damask, and his top-mast was covered with cloth of gold. His acquired riches did not last long: he reduced himself, in 1591, to the expedient of another voyage; which was far from being so successful as the former; he went no farther than the straits of Magellan, where the weather obliging him to return, he died of grief on the coast of Brazil.

Sir William, descended of an ancient and honourable family, was born about the year 1505, the second son of Thomas Cavendish of Cavendish in Suffolk, clerk of the pipe in the reign of Henry VIII. Having had a liberal education, he was taken into the family of the great Cardinal Wolsey, whom he served in the capacity of gentleman-usher of the chamber, when that superb prelate maintained the dignity of a prince. In 1527, he attended his master on his splendid embassy to France, returned with him to England, and was one of the few who continued faithful to him in his disgrace. Mr Cavendish was with him when he died, and delayed going to court till he had performed the last duty of a faithful servant by seeing his body decently interred. The king was so far from disapproving of his conduct, that he immediately took him into his household, made him treasurer of his chamber, a privy counsellor, and afterwards conferred on him the order of knighthood. He was also appointed one of the commissioners for taking the surrender of religious houses. In 1540, he was nominated one of the auditors of the court of augmentations, and soon after obtained a grant of several considerable lordships in Hertfordshire. In the reign of Edward VI. his estates were much increased by royal grants in seven different counties; and he appears to have continued in high favour at court during the reign of Queen Mary. He died in the year 1557. He was the founder of Chatsworth, and ancestor of the dukes of Devonshire. He wrote "The life and death of Cardinal Wolsey;" printed at London in 1607; reprinted in 1706, under the title of "Memoirs of the great favourite Cardinal Wolsey."

William, Duke of Newcastle, grandson of Sir William Cavendish, was born in 1592. In 1610, he was made knight of the Bath; in 1620, raised to the dignity of a peer, by the title of Baron Ogle, Cavendish, Ogle, and Viscount Mansfield; and in the third year of King Charles I. created earl of Newcastle upon Tyne, and Baron Cavendish of Bolesover. He was after this made governor to the prince of Wales, afterwards Charles II. When the first troubles broke out in Scotland, and the king's treasury was but indifferently provided, he contributed ten thousand pounds, and also raised a troop of horse, consisting of about two hundred knights and gentlemen, who served at their own charge, were commanded by the earl, and honoured with the title of the prince's troop. He had after this the command of the northern counties; and was constituted general and commander in chief of all the forces that might be raised north of Trent, and of several counties south of that river. He afterwards raised an army of eight thousand horse, foot, and dragoons; with which he took some towns, and gained several important victories. On this he was advanced to the dignity of marquis of Newcastle; but his majesty's affairs being totally ruined by the rashness of Prince Rupert, he, with a few of the principal officers of the army, went abroad, and staid for some time at Paris; where, notwithstanding the vast estate he had when the civil war broke out, his circumstances were now so bad, that himself and wife were reduced to the necessity of pawning their clothes for a dinner. He afterwards removed to Antwerp, that he might be nearer his own country; and there, though under great difficulties, resided for several years; but, notwithstanding his distresses, he was treated, during an exile of eighteen years, with extraordinary marks of distinction. On his return to England at the Restoration, he was advanced to the dignity of earl of Ogle, and duke of Newcastle. He spent his time in a country retirement, and was the patron of men of merit. His grace died in 1679, aged 84. He wrote a treatise on horsemanship, which is esteemed; and some comedies, which are not.

Mr Granger observes, that he was master of many accomplishments, and was much better qualified for a court than a camp; that he understood horsemanship, music, and poetry; but was a better horseman than musician, and a better musician than poet.