descended of an ancient and honourable family, was born about the year 1505, being 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 Cardinal Wolsey, whom he served in the capacity of gentleman-usher of the chamber, when that magnificent prelate maintained the style and 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 remains 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 and a privy counsellor, and afterwards conferred on him the order of knighthood. He was also appointed one of the commissioners for receiving the surrender of religious houses. In 1540 he was nominated one of the auditors of the court of augmentations, and soon afterwards 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. Sir William 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.