William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland
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William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland KG
(1 March 1709 – 1 May 1762), styled Viscount Woodstock from 1709 to 1715 and Marquess of Titchfield from 1715 to 1726, was a British
peer
.
Portland was the son of Henry Bentinck, 1st Duke of Portland
and his wife Elizabeth Noel, daughter of Wriothesley Baptist Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough. He was an original governor of the Foundling Hospital
in London
, founded in 1739, and was made a Knight of the Garter in 1741. He married Lady Margaret Harley
, daughter of Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
. They had six children:
Portland is identified in The Handy-book of Literary Curiosities (1909) as one of the perpetrators of The Great Bottle Hoax of 1749 in which a large crowd was lured to a London theater with the expectation of seeing a man jump into a "quart bottle".
Portland died in May 1762, aged 53, was buried at Westminster Abbey
. He was succeeded in the dukedom by his eldest son William, who became Prime Minister of Great Britain. The Duchess of Portland died in 1785.
The department of Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham
holds a number of papers relating to the 2nd Duke: the 2nd Duke's papers (Pw D) are part of the Portland (Welbeck) Collection; as are the papers of John Achard (Pw C), personal tutor to the 2nd Duke.
The Portland Estate Papers held at Nottinghamshire Archives also contain items relating to the 2nd Duke's properties.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(1 March 1709 – 1 May 1762), styled Viscount Woodstock from 1709 to 1715 and Marquess of Titchfield from 1715 to 1726, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
.
Portland was the son of Henry Bentinck, 1st Duke of Portland
Henry Bentinck, 1st Duke of Portland
Henry Bentinck, 1st Duke of Portland , styled Viscount Woodstock from 1689 until 1709, was a British politician and colonial statesman....
and his wife Elizabeth Noel, daughter of Wriothesley Baptist Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough. He was an original governor of the Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, founded in 1739, and was made a Knight of the Garter in 1741. He married Lady Margaret Harley
Margaret Bentinck, Duchess of Portland
Margaret Cavendish Bentinck, Duchess of Portland , styled Lady Margaret Harley before 1734, Duchess of Portland from 1734 to her husband's death in 1761, and Dowager Duchess of Portland from 1761 until her own death in 1785...
, daughter of Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer , styled Lord Harley between 1711 and 1724, was a British politician, bibliophile, collector and patron of the arts.-Background:...
. They had six children:
- Lady Elizabeth Bentinck (Welbeck Abbey, 27 June 1735 – 25 December 1825, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
), who married Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of BathThomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of BathThomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath KG was a British politician who held office under George III serving as Southern Secretary, Northern Secretary and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Between 1751 and 1780 he was known as Lord Weymouth... - Lady Henrietta Bentinck (b. 8 February 1737; 4 June 1827), who married George Grey, 5th Earl of StamfordGeorge Grey, 5th Earl of StamfordGeorge Harry Grey, 5th Earl of Stamford , styled Lord Grey from 1739 to 1768, was an English nobleman....
- William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (b. 14 April 1738; d. 30 October 1809)
- Lady Margaret Bentinck (b. 26 July 1739; d.28 April 1756)
- Lady Frances Bentinck (b. 9 April 1741; March 1743)
- Lord Edward Charles Cavendish-BentinckLord Edward BentinckLord Edward Charles Cavendish-Bentinck , known as Lord Edward Bentinck, was a British politician.-Background and education:...
(3 March 1744 – 8 October 1819)
Portland is identified in The Handy-book of Literary Curiosities (1909) as one of the perpetrators of The Great Bottle Hoax of 1749 in which a large crowd was lured to a London theater with the expectation of seeing a man jump into a "quart bottle".
Portland died in May 1762, aged 53, was buried at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. He was succeeded in the dukedom by his eldest son William, who became Prime Minister of Great Britain. The Duchess of Portland died in 1785.
The department of Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham
Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham
Manuscripts and Special Collections is part of Information Services at the University of Nottingham. It is based at King's Meadow Campus in Nottingham in England...
holds a number of papers relating to the 2nd Duke: the 2nd Duke's papers (Pw D) are part of the Portland (Welbeck) Collection; as are the papers of John Achard (Pw C), personal tutor to the 2nd Duke.
The Portland Estate Papers held at Nottinghamshire Archives also contain items relating to the 2nd Duke's properties.