Margaret Cavendish

1623-1673 Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire

Unkindly known as ‘Mad Madge’ today, Margaret Cavendish was one of the liveliest characters of 17th century England. She was the second wife of Marquess (later duke) William Cavendish who she met in 1645 in Paris at the exiled court of Queen Henrietta Maria. During a time of immense political upheaval, Margaret published a number of books including Opinions, Observations and Orations which tackled such weighty subjects as natural and political philosophy, gender studies and religion.

But Margaret is notorious for her eccentricity rather than her achievements. She whiled away many hours writing in her closet, but also revelled in making striking public appearances. One contemporary said there were “many soberer people in Bedlam”, while prolific diarist Samuel Pepys described Margaret’s unconventional outfits and called her “mad, conceited and ridiculous”.

But detractors threatened by Margaret’s overstepping of her station as a female failed to mention her work ethic – she was in all likelihood the most published woman of the 17th century, penning plays, essays, criticisms and poetry, plus some of the earliest proto-science fiction. She was also actively involved in running her husband’s lands, including Bolsover Castle, and in 1667 became the first woman to attend a Royal Society meeting.

Margaret’s devotion to William, who called her Peg, is evident in her biography of him, which enjoyably dissects the quirks of a very public figure. She notes that he took care to dress fashionably, unless the clothes were inconvenient for horse riding and “heroic actions”, and describes William as “neat and cleanly, which makes him to be somewhat long in dressing”. The soldiers serving under him in the Civil War clearly agreed: grumbling that he “lay in bed until eleven o’clock and combed till twelve”.