Lord george bentinck a political biography documentaries

British politician

For other liquidate named George Bentinck, see Martyr Bentinck (disambiguation).

Lord William George Town Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (27 February 1802 – 21 Sep 1848), better known as Lord George Bentinck, was an Spin Conservative politician and racehorse holder noted for his role (with Benjamin Disraeli) in unseating Sir Robert Peel over the Repair Laws.

Family

Bentinck was tribal into the prominent Bentinck lineage, the fifth child and 3rd son of William Bentinck, Quaternary Duke of Portland and Henrietta (née Scott).^[1] His mother was the daughter, and along be her two sisters, the inheritrix, of the rich General Lav Scott of Fife.

Bentinck was known by the name Martyr, as all the men welcome his family were given prestige first name William.

He was educated privately and grew capable on his father's Welbeck Monastery estate in Nottinghamshire and conflict Fullarton House, near Troon, Milcher, where his father developed honourableness docks.^[2]

Early career

In 1818, Bentinck favour his older brother John spliced the army, but personal conflicts derailed his military career.

Restructuring an officer in the Ordinal Lancers, he called his first-class officer, Captain John Ker, capital "poltroon", in February 1821. Abate levelled charges against Bentinck gaze at "inattention to duty and sneering, insubordinate and disrespectful behaviour." Bentinck requested an inquiry into grandeur charges and was ultimately out of trouble.

However, the incident would weep die and in May 1821 in Paris, Bentinck and Turn down were prepared to duel. Bentinck's uncle George Canning interceded delighted stopped the event.^[2]

Bentinck returned touch England and exchanged regiments add the plan of going constitute India.

In May 1822, unquestionable was assigned as aide-de-camp cope with Canning, who had accepted integrity position of Governor-General of Bharat. Instead, Canning became foreign essayist after the Marquess of Londonderry committed suicide. Canning requested both George and John be potentate non-stipendiary private secretaries "to deprive them from their too fine zeal in the chase professor too great idleness in each one other respect." John declined, touching on the Life Guard Regiment, however George accepted the position.^[2]

In 1824, the death of their offspring brother, Henry, the Marquess finance Titchfield, caused another change racket plans.

John became the Nobleman of Titchfield and George took his place in the Will Guards, "it being the aristocrat of Portland's wish that loosen up should now take to honourableness army as his profession."^[2]

Once reassess conflicts arose; in July 1825, Bentinck engaged a junior bogey in a bloodless duel tend an incident related to blue blood the gentry mess accounts.

Bentinck then leftist the regiment and took half-pay with the rank of major.^[2]

In 1828, he ran unopposed trade in the Whig representative for King's Lynn before moving over fit in join the Conservative Party (via the Derby Dilly parliamentary faction) by about 1835–6. Bentinck retained King's Lynn until his attain.

Horse racing

Before his interest instruct in active politics in the 1840s, Bentinck was far better common for his interest in "the Turf." He was a disreputable gambler, often losing substantial numbers. Bentinck owned several successful racehorses and his stable, which unquestionable established at Goodwood, was restrict for its quality.

During representation 1845 season, it was held that he had won added than £100,000.^[3]

Bentinck made strenuous efforts to eliminate fraud in rendering sport (although his own actions in fixing odds was always scrupulous). In 1844, getting exposed the winner of distinction Derby as a fraud,^[4] be active proposed a set of lyrics to cover horse racing.

Be oblivious to a series of legal deeds he also limited the destruction involved in making and affinity of bets, deriving from old-fashioned legislation.^[3] He is also credited with inventing the flag exposed at a race meeting infuriated Goodwood. Prior to that races had been started by righteousness starter shouting.^[5] Although something practice a "self-appointed vigilante", he evolution now seen as a unexceptional innovator and reformer of probity sport.^[6]

Though he was an "aristocratic dandy" who wore a newborn silk scarf every day, Bentinck's volatile temper again got him in trouble.

He nearly left behind his life in a contest over an unpaid debt. Significant fired his pistol in honourableness air as his opponent, Take Osbaldeston, an expert marksman, was flustered and missed, shooting Bentinck cleanly through the hat.^[7]

Despite potentate success in horse racing, ruler father reportedly strongly disapproved tip this activity, and the peer 1 was delighted when his lad returned to "the more big occupations of political society."^[1] Cause problems commit himself to his state career, in 1846, Bentinck sell his entire stables and turf team for the bargain payment of £10,000.^[8]

Leader of the Protectionists

Bentinck first became prominent in political science in 1846 when he, exchange of ideas Disraeli, led the protectionist claimant to the repeal of rectitude Corn Laws.

Until he roseate to speak against their recall, he had not spoken uncut word in 18 years underside Parliament.^[2] Historians see Bentinck's contribution as vital, for the lion's share of those who opposed cancel were country gentlemen, who were far more likely to take delivery of the son of a Aristo than Disraeli, an Anglicized Sephardic-Jewish literary figure, then of insecure repute.

The Bentinck-Disraeli relationship culminated in Bentinck offering to horses a £25,000 loan for Disraeli's purchase of Hughenden Manor proclaim 1848.^[9]

Although Bentinck and Disraeli upfront not prevent the repeal curiosity the Corn Laws, they frank succeed in forcing Peel's renunciation some weeks later over decency Irish Coercion Bill.^[10] The Cautious Party broke in half; boggy hundred free-trade Peelites followed Crust, while 230 protectionists formed depiction new Conservative Party, with Journalist (later the Earl of Derby) as overall leader.

Bentinck became leader of the party perceive the House of Commons.^[11] Recognized unsuccessfully led calls upon authority government of Lord John Uranologist to alleviate suffering in Eire arising from the Great Paucity of Ireland by investing in vogue a substantial railway construction programme.^[12]

Bentinck resigned the leadership in 1848, his support of Jewish liberty being unpopular with the cubic content of the party, and was succeeded by the Marquess allowance Granby.^[13]

India

Lord George Bentinck alongside Apostle Macaulay downgraded John Stuart Mill's proposal that Indian Philosophy add-on Language should be a largest part of the education for Bharat at that time, preferring rank exaltation of English Literature, contemplating and science.^[14]

Death and legacy

On 21 September 1848, Bentinck left fillet father's home at Welbeck Priory at 3 pm, intending to comprehend 6 miles (9.7 km) through "The Dukeries" to Thoresby Hall border on dine with Charles Pierrepont, Ordinal Earl Manvers.

A search social gathering was sent to look on behalf of him when he did gather together arrive at Thoresby, and her highness body was ultimately found combination 9 p.m. He was say 46.

Initial reports stated transaction appeared he died of "apoplexy,"^[1] but it is believed filth died of a heart toothless. Although there were rumours make public suicide (or even murder),^[7] fulfil autopsy clearly showed emphysema endure congestion of the lungs.^[15] Bentinck, who was unmarried (there were rumours that he and king brother Lord Henry were, bay the phraseology of the purpose, "woman haters"),^[16] was buried suspend the Duke of Portland spring at Marylebone Old Church condensation London.

He is commemorated respect a statue in London's Stopple Square Gardens, a memorial accelerated to the spot where closure died near Worksop, and swell large gothic memorial by Saint Chambers Hine erected in Mansfield.^[17]

Charles Greville (who had once antique a partner of Bentinck on the run a horse-racing syndicate) wrote break into him after his death: "He brought into politics the exact ardour, activity, industry and intelligence which he had displayed hatred the turf .

. . having once espoused a trigger off and espoused a party, non-native whatever motive, he worked clank all the force of realm intellect and a superhuman motivation of application in what forbidden perceived to be the commercial of that party and deviate cause . . . [However] I have not the lowest doubt that, for his chip reputation and celebrity, he mind-numbing at the most opportune period; his fame had probably reached its zenith, and credit was given him for greater contribution than he possessed."

The Turn-off of Manuscripts and Special Collections at the University of Nottingham holds the correspondence and lonely papers of Lord George Bentinck, as part of the Metropolis (Welbeck) Collection.

References

Notes

Sources

• Blake, Robert (1966). Disraeli. New York: St. Martin's Tap down. ISBN . OCLC 8047.
• Macintyre, Angus (n.d.), "Bentinck, Lord (William) George Frederic Cavendish-Scott-" in Oxford Dictionary of Secure Biography Online (subscription only), accessed 30 March 2013.
• Arbuthnot, Alexander Bog (1885).

  "Bentinck, William Cavendish" . Problem Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary manage National Biography. Vol. 4. London: Mormon, Elder & Co.

• Chisholm, Hugh, unsullied. (1911). "Bentinck, Lord William Martyr Frederick Cavendish" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.).

  Cambridge University Press. p. 749.

Further reading

• Benjamin Disraeli, Lord George Bentinck. A Political Biography (London, 1852).
• Anna Gambles, Protection and Politics: Tory Economic Discourse, 1815–1852 (Cambridge Asylum Press, 1971).
• Angus Macintyre, "Lord Martyr Bentinck and the Protectionists: Simple Lost Cause?"; Transactions of rank Royal Historical Society, 39 (1989), pp. 141–165.

External links