BENTHAM, Sir Samuel, was the youngest son of Jeremiah Bentham, and the brother of the famous jurist, whose life and labours we have just glanced at. He, too, was sent to Westminster school, but being a day scholar, he returned every night to his father's house in Queen Square Place. The stable attached to the house was occupied by a carpenter, and young Samuel had the opportunity of handling the axe, the hammer, and the saw. A mechanical genius rapidly developed itself, and in the fourteenth year of his age he was bound an apprentice to the master shipwright of Woolwich dockyard. He at once set himself to the attainment of scientific knowledge and practical skill. His master being removed from Woolwich to Chatham, Bentham went along with him, and not merely attended to business in the dockyard, but took short trips to sea, occasionally going as far as the Isle of Wight. When his apprenticeship was out, he spent some time at the Royal college at Portsmouth, and even then suggested many improvements, both in shipbuilding and in the apparatus for working a ship. In 1780, Bentham visited the great naval establishments of Holland and the north of Europe, acquainting himself with the resources of every country he passed through: for he had long perceived that the business of a naval engineer embraced a wide extent of scientific knowledge, and a familiarity with a vast variety of manufactures. Bentham made a considerable stay at St. Petersburg, and so ingratiated himself with Prince Potemkin, that his highness invited the English shipwright to accompany him in a journey to the Crimea. Wherever he went, his practice as a handicraftsman served him in good stead, and he taught the Russians the use of many machines with which they were at that time unacquainted. He was induced to remain some time in Russia, and he even formed a tender attachment, which threatened at one time to sever him for ever from his native land. However, he returned to England, and was employed in various capacities under the Board of Admiralty. For many years he busied himself in improving the different dockyards of the kingdom; and in the capacity of inspector-general of naval works, he probably saved the country many thousand pounds. In all respects he shot far ahead of the times, and, of course, he did not fail to raise up numerous detractors. To him we owe the introduction of the block machinery at Portsmouth, which is still looked on there as a miracle of art; the introduction of breakwaters, such as we have at Plymouth; and for innumerable other improvements in the details of naval dockyards and naval administration. Looked at individually his reforms may seem small, but considered in the aggregate, their value must be estimated at a high rate. Altogether his genius is wonderfully like that of his more celebrated brother. Like Jeremy, Sir Samuel discovered many things, and suggested many improvements, the glory and the profit of which have, in too many instances, been appropriated by others. Died 1831.—(Abridged from a Memoir by his Widow.)—C. W. C.
BENTHAM, Thomas, bishop of Litchfield and Coventry in the reign of Elizabeth, and one of the most learned and active members of the ultra-protestant party, was born about the year 1513 at Sherborn in Yorkshire. He was a fellow of Magdalen college, Oxford, in 1533, when Bishop Gardiner, exerting his authority as visitor of the college, undertook to cleanse it from the audacious protestantism by which its proceedings began to be characterized. It was proved against Bentham that he had shaken the censer out of a priest's hand in the choir of the chapel, and he was consequently ejected from his fellowship. He went to Zurich, and afterwards passed some time at Basle and Frankfort; but, returning to England before the end of Mary's reign, he had the boldness to officiate to a small congregation in London. He was elevated to the see of Litchfield shortly after the accession of Elizabeth. Died in 1578.—J. S., G.
BENTINCK, a noble family which has produced a large number of eminent public men. The founder of the English branch of the family was William, third son of Henry de Bentinck of Dipenham in Over-Issel, the head of a noble Batavian house. Bentinck began public life as page of honour to William, prince of Orange, to whom he was strongly attached. He showed his devotion to his master by waiting on him throughout a peculiarly malignant attack of the small-pox, which had previously been fatal to many members of the prince's family, and placed his own life in imminent peril. The king was scarcely convalescent when Bentinck himself caught the contagion, and was in great danger, but ultimately recovered. Throughout the remainder of William's life he regarded Bentinck with the warmest affection, and treated him with a confidence which he extended to no other person. He came over to England in the same ship with the prince at the Revolution of 1688; and as soon as William was declared king, he made Bentinck groom of the stole, first lord of the bedchamber, and a member of the privy council, and he soon after (9th April, 1689) created him earl of Portland. He also received from his grateful sovereign liberal grants from the royal demesnes, as a substantial reward for his services. Bentinck, however, was not mercenary, as he has the credit of refusing a bribe of £50,000 offered him, if he would use his influence to obtain for the East India Company the renewal of their charter. The earl was the principal person employed in the negotiations for the treaty of Ryswick, and took part also in the unpopular Partition treaty. He retained to the last the confidence of his royal master, who died in his arms. On the death of William, Bentinck ceased to take any part in public affairs. He died Nov. 22, 1709, in his sixtieth year, and was buried in Westminster abbey.—J. T.
BENTINCK, Henry, son and heir of the preceding, was created marquis of Tichfield and duke of Portland in 1716. He died in Jamaica, of which he was captain-general and governor, 1st July, 1726. His son William, second duke, added largely to the fortunes of the family, by his marriage with Margaret Cavendish, only daughter of Edward Harley, earl of Oxford, through whom he inherited the extensive estates of John Hollis, duke of Newcastle. The duchess formed the curious museum at Bulstrode, and was owner of the famous Portland vase. The duke died in 1762.—J. T.
BENTINCK, William H. C., third duke, born in 1738, was a distinguished statesman during the eventful reign of George III. He began life as a whig, and held office under Lord Rockingham in 1765, and again in 1782, when he was appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland. He was prime minister of the famous coalition cabinet composed of Fox and Lord North, with their respective friends. The university of Oxford elected him to the office of chancellor in 1792. On the breaking out of the French revolution, the duke, along with Burke and other liberal politicians, seceded from the whig party, and gave their support to the government. He was a member of Addington's administration in 1801. On the downfall of the whig ministry in 1807, he was appointed first lord of the treasury. He died 30th November, 1809. The duke was a man of moderate abilities, but of highly honourable character and of great influence.—J. T.
BENTINCK, Lord George Frederick Cavendish, third son of the fourth duke of Portland, was born in February, 1802. He was early destined for the army, but before he was of age to hold a commission, the peninsular war was ended, the field of Waterloo had been won, and Europe was enjoying an unbroken peace. Finding no chance of employment or promotion in that profession, he became private secretary to his uncle, the late Right Hon. G. Canning, and in 1826 was chosen M.P. for Lynn Regis, which he continued to represent down to the period of his death. He entered parliament with strong liberal opinions, and voted for catholic emancipation, and for the principles of the reform bill. In 1834 he deserted the ranks of the whig party, together with his friend Lord Stanley, to whose judgment he always looked up with the greatest reverence and respect. From that time until 1845, he was a staunch follower and supporter of Sir Robert Peel, who offered him a post in the ministry which he formed in 1841. The offer, however, was declined by Lord G. Bentinck, on account of his passionate attachment to the sports of the field and the race-course. When Sir Robert Peel, in 1815, announced his intention of abandoning the principles of agricultural protection, and adopting free-trade measures, the "protectionist" party was formed, and Lord G. Bentinck became their acknowledged leader. From the retirement of an ordinary silent member, he suddenly sprung into light as an able and effective speaker, a ready debater, and a cool and sound-judging politician. His speeches in the sessions of 1845-46, were most damaging to the government of Sir Robert Peel, and contributed in no small degree to hasten the downfall of his administration in the latter year. As he never actually held office, the qualifications of Lord G. Bentinck were never fairly tested, though he
