William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland

William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland KG (March 1, 1709–May 1, 1762), known as Viscount Woodstock from 1709 to 1715 and as 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:

* Lady Elizabeth Bentinck (Welbeck Abbey, June 27, 1735 – December 25, 1825, London)
* Lady Henrietta Bentinck (b. c. 1736 – 4 June 1827), who married George Grey, 5th Earl of Stamford ["Burkes Peerage" (1939 edition), s.v. Stamford. ]
* William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738–1809)
* Lady Margaret Bentinck (c. 1740 – April 28, 1756)
* Lady Frances Bentinck (c. 1742 – March 1743)
* Lord Edward Charles Bentinck (March 3, 1744 – October 8, 1819)

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.

External links

* [http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/mss/collections/family-estate/collections/portland/2nd_duke_portland.phtml Biography of the 2nd Duke, with links to online catalogues, from Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham]