Georgiana's eyes

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Georgiana Spencer, the great, great, great, great aunt of Diana, Princess of Wales, was born at Althorp in 1757 to the future Earl and Countess Spencer. Her story was popularised by Amanda Foreman with her book Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (HarperCollins, 1998), upon which was based The Duchess, the 2008 film starring Keira Knightley. Georgiana was only 17 when she married the 26-year-old William Cavendish, fifth Duke of Devonshire. She made the most of being thrust into the limelight of high society, becoming a trendsetter in contemporary fashion and taste, and using her considerable influence and political skill to negotiate and fund-raise on behalf of the Whigs. She became the first woman to take to a political platform, famously trading kisses for votes during the 1784 election campaign. With Georgiana as hostess, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, the ducal seat, became a focus for society and Whig politics.