Henry Bentinck, 1st Duke of Portland (17 March 1682 – 4 July 1726), styled Viscount Woodstock from 1689 until 1709, was a British politician and colonial statesman.

Bentinck was the second, but eldest surviving, son of William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland. On 9 June 1704, he married Lady Elizabeth Noel (the eldest daughter and coheiress of Charles Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough) at Chiswick and their seven children included:

• William Bentinck, Viscount Woodstock, later Marquess of Titchfield, later 2nd Duke of Portland (1738–1809)
• Lord George (1715–1759), soldier.
• Lady Anne (d. 1749), married Col. Daniel Paul.
• Lady Amelia Catharina (d. 1756), married Jacob van Wassenaer, Heer van Hazerswoude-Waddingsveen.
• Lady Isabella (d. 1783), married Henry Monck.

In 1705, Bentinck entered Parliament as MP for Southampton and held the seat until 1708, when he was returned for Hampshire. In 1709, he left the Commons for the Lords after inheriting his father's earldom, was appointed Colonel of the 1st Troop of Horse Guards a year later and elevated in the Peerage as Marquess of Titchfield and Duke of Portland in 1716.

In 1721, Portland accepted the post of Governor of Jamaica, which was a not a very prestigious post, but accepted by him nonetheless after losing a huge amount of money in the South Sea Bubble the previous year. He died in office in 1726 at Spanish Town and his body was returned to England for burial.

External links

• Biography of the 1st Duke, with links to online catalogues, from Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham