William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Portland
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The Duke of Portland, circa 1900.
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| Master of the Horse | |
| In office 9 August 1886 – 11 August 1892 |
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| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Marquess of Salisbury |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Cork |
| Succeeded by | The Viscount Oxenbridge |
| In office 16 July 1895 – 4 December 1905 |
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| Monarch | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Cork |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Sefton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 December 1857 |
| Died | 26 April 1943 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Winifred Dallas-Yorke
(m. 1889) |
| Children |
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William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland (born December 28, 1857 – died April 26, 1943) was an important British landowner and politician. He was known as William Cavendish-Bentinck until 1879. He was a member of the Conservative Party.
A key role he held was Master of the Horse. This meant he was in charge of the royal stables and horses. He served in this position twice: from 1886 to 1892 and again from 1895 to 1905.
Contents
Early Life and Family History
William Cavendish-Bentinck was born in 1857. His father was Arthur Cavendish-Bentinck. His mother was Elizabeth Sophia Hawkins-Whitshed. Sadly, his mother passed away just a few days after he was born.
William came from a very important family. His great-grandfather was William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, who was a Prime Minister of Great Britain. His great-aunt was Anne Wellesley, who was the niece of the famous general Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.
William went to Eton College, a well-known school in England. In 1879, he inherited large estates, including Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire. He received these from his cousin, the 5th Duke of Portland.
Serving His Country
William Cavendish-Bentinck began his career in the military. He was a lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards from 1877 to 1880. Later, he became a lieutenant-colonel in the Honourable Artillery Company. He also held honorary colonel positions in other military units.
He became a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. He was a Conservative politician. As mentioned, he served as Master of the Horse for many years. This role involved managing the royal horses and ceremonies for the monarch. He worked under Prime Ministers Lord Salisbury and Arthur Balfour.
In 1886, he became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the King or Queen.
Honors and Awards
The Duke of Portland received many honors during his life. These showed his importance and service:
- In 1896, he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO).
- In 1900, he became a Knight of the Garter. This is one of the highest honors in Britain. Queen Victoria herself presented him with the award.
- He also received honors from other countries, like Spain, Serbia, Belgium, and Austria-Hungary.
Public Duties and Royal Connections
The Duke and Duchess of Portland traveled to British India in 1903. They attended the 1903 Delhi Durbar. This was a grand event to celebrate King Edward VII becoming Emperor of India.
He also served as Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness and Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire. A Lord-Lieutenant is the King's or Queen's personal representative in a county. He was also a trustee of the British Museum.
In 1913, the Duke and Duchess hosted Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria at their home, Welbeck Abbey. The Archduke was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. A year later, the Archduke was assassinated, which led to World War I. The Duke later wrote about a close call during the Archduke's visit, where a gun accidentally fired near them.
At the coronation of King George VI in 1937, the Duke of Portland had an important role. He carried the crown of Queen Elizabeth, who was his cousin.
Caring for Others
The Duke and Duchess of Portland were known for being kind and generous. They collected beautiful art. They also treated the many people who worked for them very well.
One former servant, George Slingsby, said that most staff had jobs for life. They were cared for in the estate's own hospital if they got sick. Their wages were not cut when they were ill. This was very unusual and kind for that time.
Love for Horses and Racing
The Duke inherited a large estate that included a stud farm near Clumber Park. He loved horse racing.
He owned famous racehorses like St. Simon, who won the 1884 Ascot Gold Cup. He also bred and owned Ayrshire and Donovan. These horses won the famous The Derby in 1888 and 1889.
Family Life
On June 11, 1889, Portland married Winifred Anna Dallas-Yorke. They had three children:
- Lady Victoria Alexandrina Violet Cavendish-Bentinck (1890–1994). She was one of Queen Victoria's last surviving godchildren.
- William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 7th Duke of Portland (1893–1977). He became the next Duke.
- Lord (Francis) Morven Dallas Cavendish-Bentinck (1900–1950).
The 6th Duke of Portland passed away in April 1943, at the age of 85. He was buried at St Winifred's Church in Holbeck. His eldest son, William, became the 7th Duke. The Duchess of Portland died in 1954.
Family Coat of Arms
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