Aristocratic eccentric. The second son of William Henry Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland and Henrietta, nee, Scott. One of nine children in an affectionate family, he was educated at home rather than at school. He became M. P. for Kings Lynn, a parliamentary seat traditionally held by a member of the Portland family. He became 5th Duke of Portland on the death of his father, 27 March 1854. The Duke showed no curiosity to intervene in politics when he became head of his family. He disliked both Disrael and Gladstone, especially the latter after the disestablishment of the Irish Church. The duke was a dedicated defender of the established church at all times. In 1857 he called in the money his father advanced Disraeli for the purchase of Hughenden Manor (£25,000). It was his building operations and other developments at his Welbeck estate that appealed to him more strongly. He shunned the company of equals instead preferring to spend time with his estate staff. He got on well with his employees which earned him the nickname "the workman's friend." He built a rollerskating rink, when the pastime was fashionable, for his staff and provided donkeys and umbrellas to enable them to get to and from work without fatique. It is estimated that between two and three million sterling was spent by the Duke in putting his ideas into execution, and the one beneficent effect of his expenditure was the large employment of a large number of men in work, and to greatly improve on agriculture following up his father's ideas, adding to the national wealth by the crops this hitherto uncultivated area was made to produce. He may of seemed pecuiliar to many - he was certainly not mad. In a time when ther was abject poverty in Worksop and mansfield, his preferance for excavation working provided a living for over 15,000 workmen for 18 years at an annual cost of £100,000. It was said at the time the prime reason for all the work was to provide a living for as many of the locals as possible. The work included the digging of flood dykes, millponds, underground ballroom, chapel and library room. As the years went by the Duke became more and more of a recluse, his eccentricities more apparent in his bizarre dress of an extraodinarily tall hat, three pairs of socks, two overcoats and a very large umbrella.∼5th Duke of Portland. Aristocratic eccentric who preferred to live in seclusion. He had an underground maze excavated under his estate at Welbeck Abbey near Clumber Park in North Nottinghamshire. He was the second son of William Henry Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, the 4th Duke of Portland, and his wife Henrietta. He was baptised at St George's Church, Hanover Square, on 30 September. One of nine children, he was known by his second Christian name, John, as all the male members of the family were named William. He was the brother of Charlotte Denison, future wife of John Evelyn Denison, 1st Viscount Ossington. Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck was educated at home rather than at school. Known as Lord John Bentinck, he served in the army from 1818, entering as an Ensign in the Foot Guards and later transferred to the 7th Light Dragoon Guards in 1821, where he became a captain, then the 2nd Life Guards in 1823. He reportedly suffered from lethargy due to his "delicate health". From 1824 to 1834 he also held the rank of captain in the Royal West India Rangers, on half pay, a sinecure, since this regiment had been disbanded in 1819. From 1859 until his death he was also Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire. The Duke died at his London residence, Harcourt House. He was buried in a simple grave in a large plot at Kensal Green cemetery in north London. As his younger brother, Henry William, had died without male issue on 31 December 1870, the title of Duke of Portland devolved upon his cousin, William Cavendish-Bentinck.