Washington sentinel., 1899-02-11
where the Dukes OfPortIand Came
From.
EngLsh Illustrated Magasine.

Ihe Portland Eeerage IS AltllG
more than two hundred years old,
but the family OF Bentinck has a
history going back to the four
teenth century. AS the name sug-
gests, it is Dutch, and, indeed, one
branch Of the house still reigns in
Holland; for one OF the sons OF the
hrst earl returned to the land Of
dykes, where he was made Count
of the Holy Roman Empire. and
where his descendants are living
to this day. They have, however,
always kept a hold on England,
and in 1886 they were granted per-
mission to bear the title oi Count
in this country. Indeed, the pres
ent Count was educated at Eton
and Oxford, and was in the diplo-
matte service, while his elder
brother, who resigned in his favor,
was formerly a lieutenant in the
Coldstream Guards.
William Bentinck was the fourth
OF the eleven children OF Baron
Bentinck, and entered the service
OF William of Orange as a page OF
honor. 1t was not until 1889 that
he finally made England his home;
but before that he had become
familiar with the country. He ac-
companied his beloved master to
England in 1870. and was made
del. by the University Of Ok
ford. He was back again in 1917,
arranging for Williams marriage
with Princess Mary, and he him
self married an English wife, a
sister OF the first Earl OF Jersey.
He was sent with congratulations
on the collapse of the Rye House
Plot in 1858, and with an offer Of
assistance against Monmouth two
years later. He was devoted to
William, whom he nursed tenderly
during IN attack of small pox IN
1914. When the Prince finally
came over to be King, Bentinck
accompanied him as his right hand
man, being created Earl OF Port
land a lew days before the coro.
nation-Aprll. 1859 the title hav-
ing become extinct by the death
OF Thomas Weston, who died in
Flanders monastery. Bentinck
lived to enjoy his honors twenty
years. During that period he was
the Kings chief adviser, and grew
famous in his fellow countryman's
service, becoming ambassador in
Paris exactly two hundred years
ago. The King made him rich,
granting him 1880 acres Of land
in Ireland after the Battle Of the
Boyne, and a large number of
manoTs in England, including that
of East Greenwich. And yet by
the mass OF Englishmen he was
detested, mainly because he was
Dutch, and because the King
trusted him before everybody. He
was an exceedingly handsome
man. Swift declares he was an
absolute Ounce" while one OF his
contemporaries declares him to
have been very profusc in gar
dening, birds, and household fur
niture, but mighty frugal and par
slmonious in everything else"
When he died in 1900 he was worth
A8oo, 900, and was believed to be
the richest subject in Europe.
That was good beginning for the
family who have inherited his titles
in direct succession (exc .pt in the
case Of the present Duke, who sue
ceeded his cousin), and have done
much to increase that zS8oo 900
with which the first Earl lowered
bis house.
Greater honors were in store for
his eldest son, Henry, who was
once described as the finest per-
son and most successful gentleman
that ever adorned the British
Court" for he was created Duke
OF Portland inI7To. He lost a lot
OF money over the South Sea bub.
BILE, but when he died in Jamaica,
OF which he was governor, he left
a tidy fortune for his son, who
made a great match by marrying
Lady Margaret Harley. This
marriage was a notable point in
the rise Of the BentinCks, for it
brought them the millions Of the
Cavendishes and made them mas
ters Of Welbeck and OF the lands
in the west Of London which we
know as the Portland estate. Lady
Margaret Harley was several re.
moves from the CaVendishes, but
she brought with her their wealth.
The process Of transmission is IN
-eresting in its very tortuousness,
and throws an instructive light on
the presence OF such names as
Cavendish Square, HOLES Street,
Oxford Street, Aarley Street, Port
land Place, and Welbeck Street,
which you find in the Portland
estates.
Sir William Cavendish, who was
Gentleman Usher to Cardinal
Wolsey, got many OF the lands
which Henry VIII. plundered from
the Church of Rome, including
Welbeck Abbey. He increased
his fortune by marrying an heiress,
Hardwlcke ol Hard. |
wicke (she died in 1907, at the age
oi eighty. seven), who had a craze
.or building Just as her descend
ant the eccentric Duke Of Portland |
three centuries later. |
1t was she who erected the splen-
die mansions Of Chatsworth, Hard |
wicke and Oldcoats, and posterity
will long remember her as Build |
ing Bess." Her eldest son was |
created Earl Of Devonshire in 1913 |
and became the ancestor oil the |