thumb|right|220px|Quartered arms of William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland, KG

William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland (1 March 1709 – 1 May 1762), styled Viscount Woodstock from 1709 to 1716 and Marquess of Titchfield from 1716 to 1726, was a British peer and politician.

Early life

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 succeeded his father in the dukedom as a teen in 1726.

Career

He was an original governor of the Foundling Hospital in London, founded in 1739, and was made a Knight of the Garter in 1741.

The Duke did not seek any public office, but focused on his family life at the family seat, Bulstrode Park. (1737–1819)

  • William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (b. 14 April 1738 – d. 30 October 1809), who married Lady Dorothy Cavendish (1750–1794) daughter of William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
  • Lady Margaret Bentinck (26 July 1739 – 28 April 1756)
  • Lady Frances Bentinck (9 April 1741 – March 1743)
  • Lord Edward Charles Cavendish-Bentinck (3 March 1744 – 8 October 1819), married Elizabeth Cumberland (d. 1837)

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.

References

Further reading

  • Biography of the 2nd Duke, with links to online catalogues, from Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham