Lord Edward Bentinck

Lord Edward Charles Cavendish-Bentinck was born on 3 March 1744. He was the second son of William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland, and Lady Margaret Cavendish Harley, daughter of Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford. He had a brother, William Cavendish-Bentinck, who became the 3rd Duke of Portland and served as Prime Minister of Great Britain.

He received education at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. Between 1764 and 1766, he undertook a Grand Tour, a traditional period of cultural visitations undertaken by young men of the British aristocracy.

His parliamentary career began in 1766 when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Lewes, a position he held until 1768. Subsequently, he served as MP for Carlisle from 1768 to 1774. In 1774, he became the MP for Nottinghamshire, serving until 1796. Later, he represented Clitheroe from 1796 until 1802. The Clitheroe seat was reportedly intended to be purchased from the Lister family by the Duke of Portland for £4,000; however, the funds were not provided, and as a result, Thomas Lister was granted a peerage on Portland’s recommendation as compensation. Despite his extensive career in Parliament, he did not hold any ministerial office.

On 28 December 1782, Bentinck married Elizabeth Cumberland, daughter of the dramatist Richard Cumberland. They had four children: two sons and two daughters. Their children included Ven. William Harry Edward Bentinck (1784–1868), who became the Archdeacon of Westminster; Cavendish Charles Bentinck (1785–1809); Harriet Elizabeth Bentinck (died 1862), who married Sir William Mordaunt Sturt Milner in 1809; and Charlotte Georgina Sophia Bentinck (1789–1819), who married Lieutenant General Sir Robert Garrett in 1814.

It is reported that Lord Edward Bentinck was assisted with financial difficulties by his elder brother. However, during his later years, he resided in Brussels, which was believed to be due to financial constraints. He died on 8 October 1819 at the age of 75. Lady Edward Bentinck died in 1837.