Lord Charles Bentinck

Lord William Charles Augustus Cavendish-Bentinck, known as Lord Charles Bentinck, was born on 20 May 1780 at Burlington House in Piccadilly, London. He was a member of the British aristocracy, the third son of William Cavendish-Bentinck, the 3rd Duke of Portland, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain, and Lady Dorothy, the only daughter of William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire. His elder brothers included William Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland, and Lord William Bentinck.

In terms of education and career, Lord Charles Bentinck served as a Member of Parliament for Ashburton from 1806 to 1812. Subsequently, he held the position of Treasurer of the Household under Prime Minister Earl of Liverpool from 1812 until his death in 1826. His political involvement was primarily within the context of the Tory administration.

Lord Charles Bentinck's family life included two marriages. His first marriage was to Georgiana Augusta Frederica Seymour, baptized Elliott, on 21 September 1808. Georgiana was born in 1782 and died on 10 December 1813. She was the daughter of Grace Elliott, a courtesan whose paternity was subject to dispute, with claims that her father was either the Prince of Wales or the 4th Earl of Cholmondeley. Lord Charles and Georgiana had one daughter, Hon. Georgiana Augusta Frederica Henrietta Cavendish Bentinck, born on 21 August 1811. After Georgiana's death, their daughter was raised at Cholmondeley Castle by Lord Cholmondeley.

Following the death of his first wife, Lord Charles Bentinck eloped in 1815 with Anne, Lady Abdy, who was the natural daughter of Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, and Hyacinthe-Gabrielle Roland. Lady Abdy was married to Sir William Abdy, 7th Baronet, who subsequently filed a suit for criminal conversation. Lady Abdy and Lord Charles married on 23 July 1816, after her divorce was granted on 25 June 1816, a process that included legislative modifications permitting their remarriage. Prior to their marriage, they had been lovers, and during her first marriage, Lady Abdy was pregnant with Lord Charles's child.

Lord Charles and Anne, Lady Abdy, had four children:

1. Reverend Charles William Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck (8 November 1817 – 17 August 1865), who was a great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II through his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who married the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.

2. Hon. Anne Hyacinthe Cavendish-Bentinck (1 September 1816 – 7 June 1888), who was unmarried and died in Cannes in 1888.

3. Lieutenant General Arthur Cavendish-Bentinck (10 May 1819 – 11 December 1877), who married Elizabeth Sophia Hawkins-Whitshed, and after her death, married Augusta Browne, 1st Baroness Bolsover. He was the father of William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland, and Lady Ottoline Morrell.

4. Hon. Emily Cavendish-Bentinck (1820 – 6 June 1850), who married Henry Hopwood.

Their relationship was marked by a notable elopement, which led to a divorce action initiated by Lady Abdy's first husband, Sir William Abdy. The divorce was finalized in 1816, allowing Lady Abdy and Lord Charles to marry shortly thereafter.

Lord Charles Bentinck died suddenly at the age of 45 on 28 April 1826 while undressing at his residence in Park Lane. His death was attributed to a blood aneurysm by Dr. Sir Henry Halford. He was discovered by his footman; his death was classified as sudden and natural. His wife, Anne, Lady Abdy, survived him by nearly five decades, passing away in March 1875.