Henry William Bentinck (15 November 1765–10 November 1820) was a Dutch-born military officer, planter and colonial administrator. He served as Governor of Saint Vincent (1802–1806), Essequibo Demerara (1806–1812), and Berbice (1814–1820).[1]

Biography

Bentinck was born in The Hague, Dutch Republic on 15 November 1765 as Hendrik Willem Bentinck.[2][3] He was a grandson of Willem Bentinck van Rhoon,[4]: 71  and a relative of William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland.[4] Bentinck was educated in Great-Britain.[1]: 13  He served 12 years in the cavalry of William V, Prince of Orange.[2][1]: 13  On 18 January 1795, William V fled from the Netherlands, and went into exile in Great-Britain.[5] In the same year, Bentinck left for Great-Britain,[3] and started to work for the British colonial service.[1]: 13 

In 1802, he was appointed Governor of Saint Vincent and served until 1806.[4]: 32  After returning from England, he was appointed Governor of Demerara and Essequibo on 10 May 1806.[6] The British government issued a rule overturning the Demerara Court of Policy's decision to proscribe slaves from holding meetings at night. Bentinck delayed implementing the rule, and was dismissed as a result.[4]: 32  In April 1812, he returned to England and was succeeded by Hugh Lyle Carmichael.[7] On 8 January 1814, Bentinck served as Governor of Berbice.[8] In Berbice, he was also owner of plantation "La Bonne Intention".[9] He was involved in cotton, but ran into financial difficulties.[4]: 14–15 

On 10 November 1820, Bentinck died in Georgetown, at the age of 54.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Haggerty, Sheryllynne; Seymour, Susanne (2018). "Imperial Careering in the Long Eighteenth Century::The Bentinck Family, 1710-1830s" (PDF). Slavery and Abolition. Nottingham: University of Nottingham. 39 (4). doi:10.1080/0144039X.2018.1429190. S2CID 148797974.
  2. 1 2 "Landmacht: Officieren, Onderofficieren en Manschappen (Staatse Militairen), Achternaam: Bentinck". Dutch National Archive. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 Johan Friederich Egbert Einaar (1934). Bijdrage tot de kennis van het Engelsch tusschenbestuur van Suriname, 1804-1816 (in Dutch). Dubbeldeman. p. 92.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Susanne Seymour and Sheryllynne Haggerty (July 2010). "Slavery connections of Bolsover Castle (1600-c.1830)" (PDF). University of Nottingham.
  5. ↑ "Vlucht van de Prins Willem V op 18 januari 1795". Scheveningen Toen en Nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  6. ↑ "PROCLAMATIONS". Essequebo and Demerary Gazette. 10 May 1806. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "To His Excellency Governor BENTINCK". Essequebo and Demerary Royal Gazette. 16 May 1812. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "Proclamation". Berbice Gazette. 8 January 1814. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "Henry John William Bentinck". Legacies of British Slavery database. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "Georgetown, Demerara, 10 Nov". De Curaçaosche courant (in Dutch). 24 February 1821. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
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