Papers of Lord William H. Cavendish Bentinck (1774-1839), soldier, politician and...

The collection covers Lord William's military and official postings in some detail, with separate groups of papers concerning his career in Madras, Sicily, and Bengal. The pre-1803 series refers to his activities as a young officer in the English armies in Flanders and Italy during the Revolutionary wars. Correspondence and related papers are also present for his time with the British armies in the Peninsular War, when he took part in the retreat to Coruña under Sir John Moore.

From his experience as a local landlord, there are records concerning his interest in agricultural improvement and the Fen drainage system. His life and interests after his return from India to England are also reflected, particularly his energetic efforts as M.P. for Glasgow to set up a company to promote steam ship communication with India via Suez and Socotra.

Philips C.H., (ed.) Correspondence of Lord William Cavendish-Bentinck (2 vols. Oxford University Press 1977)

Rosselli, John, Lord William Bentinck, The Making of a Liberal Imperialist 1774-1839 (Chatto & Windus 1974)

Rosselli, John, Lord William Bentinck and the British Occupation of Sicily, 1811-1814 (CUP,1956)

Turberville, A.S., A History of Welbeck Abbey and its Owners (2 vols. 1938-39)

Lord William's papers are divided into seven sub-fonds according to notable stages in his career, with different finding aids devoted to the different sections:

* Pw Ja Early military career to 1803

* Pw Jb Governor of Madras, 1803-1807

* Pw Jc Military service during Peninsular War, 1807-1811

* Pw Jd Envoy to the court of Sicily, 1811-1814

* Pw Je King's Lynn and political career, 1814-1827

* Pw Jf Governor-General of Bengal and India, 1827-1835

* Pw Jg Political career after India, 1835-1839

In most cases, the surviving papers reflect the organisation of his files during his official duties.

<span class="wrapper"><p>Letters to his father William, 3rd Duke of Portland (GB 0159 Pw F 1201-1212)</p> <p>Letters to his brother William, 4th Duke of Portland (GB 0159 Pw H 248-309)</p> <p>British Library</p> <p>Nottinghamshire Archives Office</p></span>

• <persname>Bentinck, William H, Cavendish-, 1774-1839</persname>
• <persname>Cavendish-Bentinck, William H, 1774-1839</persname><famname>Cavendish-Bentinck family, Dukes of Portland</famname>
• <famname>Bentinck, Cavendish-, family, Dukes of Portland</famname>

Photocopies and photographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only depending on the condition of the documents.

Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email: mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the reader.

Accessible to all registered readers.

These papers constitute part of the Portland (Welbeck) Collection (GB 0159 Pw) and were received from the 7th Duke of Portland in the first deposit from Welbeck Abbey in 1949. A second deposit was received in 1968. By the Duke's express wish the family archives were divided between The University of Nottingham (political and family correspondence); Nottinghamshire Archives Office (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Northumberland estate papers); British Library (Harley family papers); Hampshire Record Office (papers relating to the Dukes' Hampshire estate) and the Bodleian Library (Civil War papers of Reverend John Nalson). The entire Portland archive from Welbeck was accepted by the state in lieu of estate duty in 1986.

Lord William Cavendish Bentinck (1774-1839) was the second son of the third Duke of Portland and a professional soldier. His extensive correspondence and associated official papers cover his distinguished career. He saw service in Minorca and Egypt before being posted to India in 1803 as Governor of Madras. In 1811 he returned to Europe as British envoy to the Court of Sicily and commander-in-chief of the British forces in Sicily and later served in Spain. He served briefly as M.P. for Kings Lynn before returning to India in 1827 as governor-general of Bengal, where he effected important financial reforms, re-organised the judicial department and extended the system of employment of natives in official positions. In 1833 he became the first governor-general of India. Lord William returned to England in 1835, serving as Liberal M.P. for Glasgow from 1837 until just before his death in 1839.