Mitford, Deborah (1920–)

views updated

Mitford, Deborah (1920–)

English socialite, businesswoman, and duchess of Devonshire. Name variations: Debo; Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. Born Deborah Vivian Mitford in 1920; dau. of David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, and Sydney Bowles; sister of Nancy Mitford (1904–1973), Jessica Mitford (1917–1996), Diana Mitford (b. 1910), and Unity Mitford (1914–1948); m. Andrew Cavendish, duke of Devonshire, April 19, 1941 (his brother William married Kathleen Kennedy, elder sister of John F. Kennedy); children: Emma Cavendish (b. 1943); Peregrine Cavendish (b. 1944); Sophia Cavendish (b. 1957); 3 other children died at birth.

Unlike her rebellious sisters, avoided politics and became an entrepreneur, running food, book, and garden furniture shops at Chatsworth and wrote a book about Chatsworth entitled The House.

See also Jonathan and Catherine Guinness, The House of Mitford (Hutchinson, 1984); and Women in World History.