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

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.

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.

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.

Accessible to all registered readers.

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.

Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult.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.

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.

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