William Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland

His Grace The Duke of Portland PC, FRS, FSA
Lord Privy Seal
In office 30 April 1827 – July 1827
Monarch	George IV
Prime Minister	George Canning
Preceded by	The Earl of Westmorland
Succeeded by	The Earl of Carlisle
Lord President of the Council
In office 17 August 1827 – 21 January 1828
Monarch	George IV
Prime Minister	The Viscount Goderich
Preceded by	The Earl of Harrowby
Succeeded by	The Earl Bathurst
Personal details
Born	24 June 1768 (1768-06-24)
Died	27 March 1854 (1854-03-28)
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Henrietta Scott (d. 1844)
Alma mater	Christ Church, Oxford

William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland PC, FRS, FSA (24 June 1768 – 27 March 1854), styled Marquess of Titchfield until 1809, was a British politician who served in various positions in the governments of George Canning and Lord Goderich.

Background and education

Portland was the eldest son of Prime Minister William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland and Lady Dorothy, daughter of William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire and Charlotte Boyle, Baroness Clifford. He was the elder brother of Lord William Bentinck and Lord Charles Bentinck. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford.

Political career

Portland was Member of Parliament for Petersfield between 1790 and 1791 and for Buckinghamshire between 1791 and 1809. and served under his father as a Lord of the Treasury between March and September 1807. He remained out of office until April 1827 when he was appointed Lord Privy Seal by his brother-in-law George Canning. He was sworn of the Privy Council the same year. When Lord Goderich became Prime Minister in August 1827, Portland became Lord President of the Council, an office he retained until the government fell in January 1828.

Portland also held the honorary post of Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex between 1794 and 1841.

Family

Portland married Henrietta, daughter of General John Scott and his wife Margaret (née Dundas), in London on 4 August 1795. At the time of his marriage he obtained Royal Licence to take the name "Scott" in addition to that of Bentinck. They were parents of nine children:

• William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Marquess of Titchfield (21 August 1796 – 4 March 1824). His birth was commemorated by his paternal grandfather's commissioning of the Portland Font.
• Lady Margaret Harriet (21 April] 1798 – 9 April 1882)
• Lady Caroline (6 July 1799 – 23 January 1828)
• William John Cavendish, Marquess of Titchfield, later 5th Duke of Portland (12 September 1800 – 6 December 1879).
• Lord (William) George Frederick (27 February 1802 – 21 September 1848).
• Lord Henry William Bentinck (9 June 1804 – 31 December 1870).
• Lady Charlotte (1805 – 30 September 1889). Married John Evelyn Denison, 1st Viscount Ossington.
• Lady Lucy Joan (27 August 1807 – 29 July 1899) Married Charles Ellis, 6th Baron Howard de Walden.
• Lady Mary (8 July 1809 – 20 July 1874). Married Sir William Topham.

The Duchess of Portland died in April 1844. Portland survived her by ten years and died in March 1854, aged 85. He was succeeded in the dukedom by his second but eldest surviving son, William.

The department of Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham holds a number of papers relating to Portland: His personal and political papers (Pw H) are part of the Portland (Welbeck) Collection while the Portland (London) Collection (Pl) contains papers relating to his estate business. The Portland Estate Papers held at Nottinghamshire Archives also contain items relating to Portland's properties.

Titles

• William Bentinck, Marquess of Titchfield (1768–1795)
• William Scott-Bentinck, Marquess of Titchfield (1795–1801)
• William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, Marquess of Titchfield (1801–1809)
• William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland (1809–1854)

William Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland

See also

• English Education Act 1835

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Duke of Portland
• Biography of the 4th Duke, with links to online catalogues, from Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Hon. George North William Jolliffe	Member of Parliament for Petersfield 1790–1791 With: William Jolliffe	Succeeded by Welbore Ellis William Jolliffe
Preceded by The Earl Verney James Grenville	Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire 1791–1800 With: James Grenville 1790–1797 Earl Temple 1797–1800	Succeeded by Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Parliament of Great Britain	Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire 1801–1809 With: Earl Temple	Succeeded by Earl Temple William Selby Lowndes
Political offices
Preceded by The Earl of Westmorland	Lord Privy Seal 1827	Succeeded by The Earl of Carlisle
Preceded by —	Minister without Portfolio 1827	Succeeded by —
Preceded by The Earl of Harrowby	Lord President of the Council 1827–1828	Succeeded by The Earl Bathurst
Honorary titles
Preceded by In Commission	Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex 1794–1841	Succeeded by The Marquess of Salisbury
Preceded by Henry Dundas	Custos Rotulorum of Middlesex 1794–1841
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by William Cavendish-Bentinck	Duke of Portland 1809–1854	Succeeded by William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck