Lord George Bentinck

Lord William George Frederick Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (27 February 1802 – 21 September 1848), better known as Lord George Bentinck, was an English Conservative politician and racehorse owner noted for his role (with Benjamin Disraeli) in unseating Sir Robert Peel over the Corn Laws.

Bentinck was born into the prominent Bentinck family, the fifth child and third son of William Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland and Henrietta (née Scott). His mother was the daughter, and along with her two sisters, the heiress, of the rich General John Scott of Fife.

Bentinck was known by the name George, as all the men in his family were given the first name William. He was educated privately and grew up on his father's Welbeck Abbey estate in Nottinghamshire and at Fullarton House, near Troon, Ayrshire, where his father developed the docks.

In 1818, Bentinck and his older brother John joined the army, but personal conflicts derailed his military career. As an officer in the 9th Lancers, he called his superior officer, Captain John Ker, a "poltroon", in February 1821. Ker levelled charges against Bentinck of "inattention to duty and contemptuous, insubordinate and disrespectful behaviour." Bentinck requested an inquiry into the charges and was ultimately cleared. However, the incident would not die and in May 1821 in Paris, Bentinck and Ker were prepared to duel. Bentinck's uncle George Canning interceded and stopped the event.

Bentinck returned to England and exchanged regiments with the plan of going to India. In May 1822, he was assigned as aide-de-camp to Canning, who had accepted the position of Governor-General of India. Instead, Canning became foreign secretary after the Marquess of Londonderry committed suicide. Canning requested both George and John be his non-stipendiary private secretaries "to wean them from their too great zeal in the chase and too great idleness in every other respect." John declined, joining the Life Guard Regiment, but George accepted the position.

In 1824, the death of their eldest brother, Henry, the Marquess of Titchfield, caused another change of plans. John became the Marquess of Titchfield and George took his place in the Life Guards, "it being the duke of Portland's wish that he should now take to the army as his profession."

Once again conflicts arose; in July 1825, Bentinck engaged a junior officer in a bloodless duel over an incident related to the mess accounts. Bentinck then left the regiment and took half-pay with the rank of major.

In 1828, he ran unopposed as the Whig representative for King's Lynn before moving over to join the Conservative Party (via the Derby Dilly parliamentary faction) by about 1835–6. Bentinck held King's Lynn until his death.