Lady Dorothy Macmillan


Lady Dorothy Evelyn Macmillan was the third daughter of Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, and Evelyn Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. She was married to British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan from 1920 until her death.

Family life

She spent her first eight years at Holker Hall, Lancashire ; and Lismore Castle, Ireland. She became known as Lady Dorothy from the age of eight, when her father succeeded to the dukedom of Devonshire, and the family moved into Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, and the other ducal estates. She received lessons in French, German, riding and golf. From the age of sixteen she lived with the family at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, where her father served as Governor General of Canada.

Marriage

In 1920 she married publisher and Conservative politician Harold Macmillan, who had been on her father's staff in Canada. Their lavish wedding, on 21 April at St. Margaret's, Westminster, was attended by royalty, aristocracy and leading literary figures, and was hailed as the social event of the London season.
Lady Dorothy was a dutiful political wife and the couple remained together until her death from a heart attack at the Macmillan family estate at Birch Grove, West Sussex, in 1966. Her husband, who was created Earl of Stockton in 1984, outlived her by 20 years.
She and Harold had four children: