BENTINCK, WILLIAM GEORGE FREDERIC CAVENDISH, commonly called Lord George Bentinck (1802–1848), fifth child and second surviving son of the fourth duke of Portland, by Henrietta, daughter of Major-general Scott, of Balcomie, co. Fife, was born at Welbeck Abbey on 27 Feb. Although it has been frequently asserted that he was sent to Eton and Christ Church, Oxford (Encycl. Brit. 8th and 9th editions), his name does not appear in the lists of either the college or the house. He seems to have been educated at home, and to have entered the 10th hussars as cornet as early as 1819. Although he was a younger son, the great wealth of the house of Bentinck, augmented as it was by the marriage of his father, made him a rich man. His mother's sister was the wife of Mr. Canning; And when, in 1822, that statesman accepted the office of governor-general of Bengal, Lord George Bentinck exchanged into the 4lst regiment, intending to accompany him as his military secretary . The sudden death of Lord Londonderry, however, gave Mr. Canning the post of foreign secretary and leader of the House of Commons. For three years Lord George Bentinck was the private secretary of his uncle, and a strong attachment existed between them. During this period he seems to have been on half-pay. Tall and well-made, both in face and figure a model of manly beauty, quick of eye and of action, he was distinguished by his skill in every kind of sport. It was said of him that 'he had the best of every game he played, and yet he played it fairly.' A bold rider, and shooting in true sportsmanlike fashion with his dogs, he loved to hunt, and not merely to gallop, and to shoot for sport rather than for bag. He was also good as a cricketer and oarsman. It was, however, on the turf that he chiefly excelled. Inheriting a taste for racing, he inherited with that taste a fine sense of honour which made his patronage of the sport a benefit to racing society. He rode his first public match at Goodwood in 1824, winning it on Mr. Pointz's Olive after two dead heats and a severe struggle in the deciding heat. After this he occasionally appeared 'in silk ' up to 1846. After some three years' work for Mr. Canning he again joined the army. As he chanced, in 1825, to ride off Newmarket Heath with the Duke of York, the duke, who keenly loved racing, offered him an unattached majority which happened to be vacant. Lord George accepted the offer, and joined the 2nd life guards. In 1826 he was returned as M.P. for the borough of King's Lynn, and represented that constituency until his death. He soon withdrew from any active pursuit of his profession, though his name remained in the army list for some years. He now gave himself up to racing, and pursued the fortunes of the turf 'on a scale that perhaps has never been equalled' (Disraeli). He was well fitted for the pursuit. 'I don't pretend to know much,' he once said, 'but I can judge of men and horses.' Beginning with a small and well-selected stud, he gradually increased the number of his 'string' until in 1844 he had no less than forty horses running in public, and about a hundred altogether. Although never fortunate enough to win the Derby, he is said to have made considerable' profits on the turf. He betted heavily and with good judgment. His trainer was old John Day, and young John, his trainer's son, rode for him. He gained a great success when, in 1886, his nomination, Lord Lichfield's Elis, won the Leger. The next year he won the Thousand Guineas with Chapeau d'Espagne, and in 1838 the Two Thousand with Grey Mom us. His most remarkable successes were gained for him by his famous mare Crucifix (bv Priam), who, in 1840, won the Oaks, the Thousand, and the Two Thousand Guineas. In 1842 he again won the Thousand Guineas with Firebrand. More important than these successes are the reforms worked by Lord George Bentinck in the practices of the turf. Among other improvements in management he introduced the method of 'vanning' racers. He insisted that all st ewards, trainers, and jockeys should be strictly punctual; he heralded by numbers the names of the ' field ' about to
