Papers of Henry Bentinck, 1st Duke of Portland (1682-1726) in the Portland (Welbeck) Collection

Scope and Content

A large proportion of the correspondence and papers relates to the South Sea Stock. General financial affairs are represented, as are family matters. There are papers concerning servants, property and rentals, and also a section written by the duke reflecting his interest in the opera. Correspondents include Anthony Heinsius, Grand Pensionary of Holland; Charles Henri de Lorraine, Prince of Vaudemont; Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland, and James Vernon, Principal Secretary of State, 1698-1702.

Administrative / Biographical History

Papers of Henry Bentinck, son of William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, who succeeded his father as 2nd Earl in 1709 and was created Duke of Portland by George I in 1716. The 1st Duke suffered heavy financial losses in 1720 after investing in South Sea stock. He subsequently took up the post of Governor of Jamaica, where he died in 1726.

Arrangement

The Collection is divided into two series, reflecting its arrangement on acquisition from Welbeck. The first consists of letters to the Duke, and the second series contains miscellaneous papers.

Access Information

Accessible to all registered readers.

Other Finding Aids

Copyright in all Finding Aids belongs to the University of Nottingham.In the reading Room, King's Meadow Campus:Typescript Catalogue, 6 pp At the National Register of Archives:Typescript Catalogue, 6 pp On the World Wide Web:Catalogue accessible from the website for Manuscripts and Special Collections, Manuscripts Online Catalogue.Catalogue also available online through The National Archives Access to Archives (A2A) web site.

Conditions Governing Use

Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk).Photocopies and photographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.

Custodial History

These papers constitute part of the Portland (Welbeck) Collection (Pw) and were received from the 7th Duke of Portland in the first deposit from Welbeck Abbey in 1949. By the Duke's express wish the family archives were divided between The University of Nottingham (political and family correspondence); Nottinghamshire Archives Office (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Northumberland estate papers); British Library (Harley family papers); Hampshire Record Office (papers relating to the Dukes' Hampshire estate) and the Bodleian Library (Civil War papers of Reverend John Nalson). The entire Portland archive from Welbeck was accepted by the state in lieu of estate duty in 1986.

Related Material

Papers of Hans William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland (1649-1709), statesman, in the Portland (Welbeck) Collection GB 159 Pw A

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