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Bentham
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Bentinck

as Sir Samuel, there is no account of his having been knighted in England; he seems to have assumed, and to have been tacitly authorised to assume, the title, as knight of the Russian order of St. George, after his presentation to the king in 1809. For such assumption the king's sanction was, of course, sufficient, but its being granted in this way and on these grounds remains, we believe, unparalleled in modern times. In 1796 he married Mars' Sophia, the eldest daughter of Dr. George Fordyce, by whom he had several children. His wife survived him many years, and died, at the age of ninety-three, 18 May 1858.

[Life of Brigadier-general Sir Samuel Bentham, K.S.G., formerly Inspector of Naval Works, lately a Commissioner of his Majesty's Navy, with the distinct duty of Civil Architect and Engineer of the Navy, by his widow, M. S. Bentham, cr. 8vo, 1862. This is written mainly from Bentham's own journals and letters, and with a full knowledge and understanding of Bentham's undertakings. Lady Bentham died before the work was completed, but the loss was ably supplied by her younger daughter. On page x of the introduction to this, there is a full and detailed list of the numerous pamphlets and magazine articles of which, during his long life, Bentham was the author; as their interest is exclusively technical, it is unnecessary here to repeat the list. The Memoir by W. L. Sargant (Essays of a Birmingham Manufacturer, i. 226) with some interesting criticisms, is, in the main, an abstract and review of Lady Bentham's Life; Bowring's Life of Jeremy Bentham (collected works, vol. x.) chaps. vii.-x.]

J. K. L.

BENTHAM, THOMAS (1513–1578), bishop, was born at Sherburn, Yorkshine, in 1512-13. He was admitted perpetual fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, on 10 Nov. 1546, proceeded, M.A. 1547, and 'about that time did solely addict his mind to the study of theology and to the learning of the Hebrew tongue,' in which last he was most excellent, as in those of Greek and Latin.' On the accession of Mary he was turned out of his fellowship 'for his forward and malapert zeal against the catholic religion in the time of Edward VI, by the visitors appointed by her to regulate the university (Life of Jewell, 1573). He retired to Zurich and afterwards to Basle, and became preacher to the exiles there, to whom he delivered an exposition of the Acts of the Apostles. Being recalled by some of the brethren, he was made superintendent of them all in London, and continued among them 'in a timorous condition for some time.' Heylin (Hist. of the Reformation) says: 'Mr. Bentham continued minister of the protestant congregation in London till Queen Mary died,' and that 'by the encouragement and constant preaching of this pious man, the protestant party did not only stand to their former principles, but were resolved to suffer whatsoever could be laid on them rather than forfeit a good conscience.' On Elizabeth's succession he was appointed bishop of Lichfield and Coventry after Dr. Ralph Bayne. This was in 1559, in his forty-sixth year. In 1565 he was created D.D. He was in great repute for learning. He died at Eccleshall in Staffordshire on 21 (not 19, as Willis says) Feb. 1578, leaving a widow, Matilda. Bishop Bentham is now mainly remembered as having translated Ezekiel and Daniel (1568) in the Bishops' Bible. The initials T. C. L. stand for Thomas, Coventry and Lichfield. On his monumental toml) at Eccleshall, showing his own effigies and those of his wife and four children, is still to be read this inscription:

Hic jacet in tumlæ Benthamus episcopus ille
Doctor divinus largus patiens pius almus.

[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, ii. 816–17; Willis's Cathedrals; Anderson's and Eadie's Hist. of Bible; The Bishops' Bible; Le Neve's Fasti, i. 556.]

A. B. G.


BENTINCK, Sir HENRY JOHN WILLIAM (1796–1878), general, youngest son of Major-general John Charles Bentinck, by Jemima Helena, eldest daughter of Frederick Christian Rynhart Ginkel, fifth earl of Athlone, was born on 8 Sept. 1796, entered the Coldstream Guards as an ensign 25 March 1813, and became lieutenant-colonel of his regiment 22 August 1851. He left England with the guards 22 Feb. 1854, and commanded that brigade during the Eastern campaign until 8 Nov. He was thus engaged in the battles of the Alma, Balaclava, and Inkerman (where he was wounded in the arm), the siege of Sebastopol, and in support of the second division at the repulse of the sortie of 26 Oct. He was appointed to the fourth division after the fall of Sir George Cathcart, but was prevented by a wound and ill-health from joining it until 1 June 1855; he continued in command until 10 Oct. From 11 Oct. 1854 until his death he was colonel of the 28th foot. He served as aide-de-camp to the Queen 1841–54, and was groom-in-waiting 1859–67. On his return from the Crimea he was created a K.C.B. 5 July 1855, and was promoted to the rank of general 8 Dec. 1867. His death took place at 35 Grosvenor Street, London, 29 Sept. 1875, and hw was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery on 5 Oct. He married, 10 March 1829, Renira Antoinette, a daughter of Admiral Sir James Hawkins Whitshed, Bart.

[Army Lists, &c.]

G. C. B.