BENTINCK, Lord William Charles Cav endish, English soldier and statesman (second son of the 3d duke of Portland); b 14 Sept. 1774; d. Paris, 17 Juhe 1839. He entered the army at an early ar, and served in the Duke of York's campaign in Flanders, and also in Italy with the Russian army under Suwaroff, 1799-1801. In 1803 he proceeded to India as governor of Madras, returned thence in 1805, and subsequently went to Spain, where he commanded a brigade under Sir John Moore Corunna. In 1810 he visited Sicily as British plenipotentiary, and commander-in-chief of the English troops. The most noticeable feature of this expedition is his bestowment on the Sicili ans of a constitution, which, however, was over turned on the restoration of the Bourbons. He conducted in 1813 the expedition. from Sicily to Catalonia, and in 1814 took possession of Genoa on the revolt of the inhabitants from French rule. The same year he returned to England,
and subsequently entered Parliament as member for Nottingham. In 1827, under Mr. Canning's administration, he was sent to India as govern or-general, and held that office till 1835, when he returned to England. Among the principal events of his administration arc the abolition of the practice of suttee, the repeal of the restric tions which prohibited all Europeans, except servants of the company, from settling in India, the opening lip of internal communica tions, the establishment of the overland route, and the recognition of the liberty of the press.
1836 he again entered Parliament as mem ber f or the city of Glasgow, but was now unable from ill health to take any active share in politi cal matters. Consult Boulger, (Lord William Cavendish Bentinde (Oxford 1892).