William Henry Cavendish Bentinck 3d duke of Portland

William Henry Cavendish Bentinck Portland, 3d duke of 1738-1809, British statesman; great-grandson of the 1st earl of Portland. He was lord lieutenant of Ireland (1782) and nominal head of the coalition ministry (1783) dominated by Charles James Fox and Lord North. When the French Revolution shocked the British into passing severe laws against agitators, Portland, as home secretary (1794-1801) under William Pitt, administered them. He promoted the parliamentary union (1800) of Ireland with England and was again—and uneventfully—prime minister from 1807 to 1809.

Bentinck, William Henry Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738–1809) British statesman. As leader of the Whig Party he was briefly Prime Minister at the end of the American War of Independence in 1783. Later he supported the government of William PITT (the Younger) in its opposition to the French Revolution. After Pitt's death (January 1806) and the failure of the so-called “Ministry of All the Talents” (1806–07), he was persuaded (1807) to take office again as Prime Minister. Then an old man, he failed to prevent internal dissension in his government, which led to the duel between CANNING and CASTLEREAGH, on news of which he resigned.

Portland, William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of (1738–1809) British statesman, prime minister (1783, 1807–09). He was briefly made prime minister at the end of the American Revolution. As home secretary (1794–1801), Portland helped William Pitt (the Younger) draft the Act of Union (1801). His second ministry ended in a feud between Canning and Castlereagh.

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