The Riddell Collection of Wax Seals:
Seal Life Stories: the remarkable careers of 23 individuals from the Riddell Collection of Wax Seals
13: William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738-1809)
William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (National Galleries of Scotland. Licence: Creative Commons NC by ND )
William was born in Nottinghamshire to William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland and Margaret Cavendish-Harley. Educated at Westminster School, London and Oxford University, afterwards embarking on a Grand Tour of Germany, Poland and Italy from 1757-1761.
Elected MP for Weobly in 1761, succeeding to the dukedom in 1762, William was made Lord Chamberlain in Rockingham's first ministry of 1765-6, and served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in Rockingham's second ministry.
In 1789, Portland became one of several vice presidents of London's Foundling Hospital, and From 1792 -1809 he served as Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
Twice serving as Prime Minister, first in 1783 as part of a coalition government, and then in 1807, resigning the post in 1809 due to ill health.
William married Lady Dorothy Cavendish in 1766, having six children. Two London streets were named in his honour and he left a a collection of fine art ‘The Portland Collection’, which includes two paintings by George Stubbs.