John Bentinck
Encyclopedia
John Albert Bentinck was a British Navy captain and MP.
John Albert was a member of the younger line of the house of Bentinck
. His father, William, Count Bentinck, was a younger son of the first Earl of Portland
, and married the daughter of the last Count of Aldenburg. John Albert was the second son of this marriage and at an early age entered the British navy
. In August 1752, he was serving as a volunteer on board the Centurion
, in which vessel he visited Lisbon
, but returned in the same year to Leyden, where he remained for some time. In 1753, he was appointed midshipman
to the Penzance, a fifth-rate
of 44 guns, commanded by Captain Bonfoy (or Bonnefoy), and joined his ship at Plymouth
in June of that year to make a voyage in the following July to Newfoundland.
In 1758, Bentinck was present at an engagement in which the British captured the French vessel Raisonnable. In the same month, he was appointed to the command of H.M. sloop Fly, and in that vessel took part later in the expedition under Lord Anson
to cover the landing of Marlborough
at St Malo during the Raid on St Malo
. He was then for some time stationed with his sloop off Emden, at the time of the Capture of Emden, and while there he became involved in an unfortunate misunderstanding, in the course of which he took the extreme step of placing a Captain Angell, his superior officer, under arrest. The affair, however, was cleared up, the accusations against Captain Angell which had prompted his arrest were fully withdrawn, and on 17 October 1758, Bentinck was promoted to be captain of the Dover frigate. In January 1759, being then still on board the Fly, he had to aid in the transport of troops to England, and in March of that year, took up his new command. He did not remain long on the Dover, but was soon removed into the Niger frigate. In this vessel he was employed in 1760 as a cruiser, and distinguished himself highly in an engagement with a French ship of war of very superior weight and armament—the Diadem, of 74 guns. About a week after this action, in returning from Plymouth, where he had gone to repair damages, he fell in with and captured the Jason, a French privateer carrying 8 guns and 52 men. In the following November, he captured off Morlaix
the French corvette Epreuve, carrying 14 guns and 136 men. He remained in the Niger till the end of the war in 1762. Quitting the Niger on the conclusion of peace, he remained without a commission till 1766. In that year, he was commissioned to the Dragon, of 74 guns, at Portsmouth, and retained that command for three years. In 1770, he was appointed successor to Captain Robert Hughes in command of the Centaur, 74 guns, a guardship at Portsmouth, and held this, his last command, for three years. He died two years later on 23 September 1775.
Bentinck had great ingenuity in mechanical pursuits, and effected many useful nautical improvements, especially with regard to ships' pumps. He introduced such important additions and improvements into the chain pump used on board ship as to have gained the credit of its invention. He gave his name to 'Bentinck shrouds', which supported the rigging of masts. Next, he invented the 'Bentinck boom' which, among other things, made going about much easier. Finally, Bentinck developed a triangular mainsail often used as a storm sail which became known as simply 'the Bentinck sail'.
At the general election of 1761
he was elected to parliament for the town of Rye
, one of the Cinque Ports
, and retained his seat till the dissolution for the 1768 election
. In June, 1765 he was eleceted a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Bentinck was a count of the Holy Roman Empire. He married in 1763 Renira, daughter of Baron de Serooskerken, and by her became the founder of a second English line of Bentincks. He left a son, William Bentinck (1764-1813), who entered the navy, and rose to the rank of vice-admiral.
John Albert was a member of the younger line of the house of Bentinck
Bentinck
thumb|[[Welbeck Abbey]] thumb|Schoonheten House thumb|[[Bothal Castle]]The Bentinck family is a prominent family belonging to both Dutch and British nobility. Its members have served in the armed forces and as ambassadors and politicians, including Governor General of India and Prime Minister of...
. His father, William, Count Bentinck, was a younger son of the first Earl of Portland
Earl of Portland
Earl of Portland is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of England, first in 1633 and again in 1689.-First creation :The title of Earl of Portland was first created for the politician Richard Weston, 1st Baron Weston, in 1633...
, and married the daughter of the last Count of Aldenburg. John Albert was the second son of this marriage and at an early age entered the British navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. In August 1752, he was serving as a volunteer on board the Centurion
HMS Centurion (1732)
HMS Centurion was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Portsmouth Dockyard and launched on 6 January 1732. At the time of Centurion's construction, the 1719 Establishment dictated the dimensions of almost every ship being built...
, in which vessel he visited Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, but returned in the same year to Leyden, where he remained for some time. In 1753, he was appointed midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
to the Penzance, a fifth-rate
Fifth-rate
In Britain's Royal Navy during the classic age of fighting sail, a fifth rate was the penultimate class of warships in a hierarchal system of six "ratings" based on size and firepower.-Rating:...
of 44 guns, commanded by Captain Bonfoy (or Bonnefoy), and joined his ship at Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
in June of that year to make a voyage in the following July to Newfoundland.
In 1758, Bentinck was present at an engagement in which the British captured the French vessel Raisonnable. In the same month, he was appointed to the command of H.M. sloop Fly, and in that vessel took part later in the expedition under Lord Anson
George Anson, 1st Baron Anson
Admiral of the Fleet George Anson, 1st Baron Anson PC, FRS, RN was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War...
to cover the landing of Marlborough
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough KG, PC , known as The Earl of Sunderland between 1729 and 1733, was a British soldier and politician. He briefly served as Lord Privy Seal in 1755...
at St Malo during the Raid on St Malo
Raid on St Malo
The Raid on St Malo took place in June 1758 when an amphibious British naval expedition landed close to the French port of St Malo in Brittany. While the town itself was not attacked, as had been initially planned, the British destroyed large amounts of shipping before re-embarking a week later...
. He was then for some time stationed with his sloop off Emden, at the time of the Capture of Emden, and while there he became involved in an unfortunate misunderstanding, in the course of which he took the extreme step of placing a Captain Angell, his superior officer, under arrest. The affair, however, was cleared up, the accusations against Captain Angell which had prompted his arrest were fully withdrawn, and on 17 October 1758, Bentinck was promoted to be captain of the Dover frigate. In January 1759, being then still on board the Fly, he had to aid in the transport of troops to England, and in March of that year, took up his new command. He did not remain long on the Dover, but was soon removed into the Niger frigate. In this vessel he was employed in 1760 as a cruiser, and distinguished himself highly in an engagement with a French ship of war of very superior weight and armament—the Diadem, of 74 guns. About a week after this action, in returning from Plymouth, where he had gone to repair damages, he fell in with and captured the Jason, a French privateer carrying 8 guns and 52 men. In the following November, he captured off Morlaix
Morlaix
Morlaix is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Leisure and tourism:...
the French corvette Epreuve, carrying 14 guns and 136 men. He remained in the Niger till the end of the war in 1762. Quitting the Niger on the conclusion of peace, he remained without a commission till 1766. In that year, he was commissioned to the Dragon, of 74 guns, at Portsmouth, and retained that command for three years. In 1770, he was appointed successor to Captain Robert Hughes in command of the Centaur, 74 guns, a guardship at Portsmouth, and held this, his last command, for three years. He died two years later on 23 September 1775.
Bentinck had great ingenuity in mechanical pursuits, and effected many useful nautical improvements, especially with regard to ships' pumps. He introduced such important additions and improvements into the chain pump used on board ship as to have gained the credit of its invention. He gave his name to 'Bentinck shrouds', which supported the rigging of masts. Next, he invented the 'Bentinck boom' which, among other things, made going about much easier. Finally, Bentinck developed a triangular mainsail often used as a storm sail which became known as simply 'the Bentinck sail'.
At the general election of 1761
British general election, 1761
The British general election, 1761 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707...
he was elected to parliament for the town of Rye
Rye (UK Parliament constituency)
Rye was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Rye in East Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until its representation was halved under the Reform Act 1832....
, one of the Cinque Ports
Cinque Ports
The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex. It was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now entirely ceremonial. It lies at the eastern end of the English Channel, where the crossing to the continent is narrowest...
, and retained his seat till the dissolution for the 1768 election
British general election, 1768
The British general election, 1768 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Summary of the Constituencies:...
. In June, 1765 he was eleceted a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Bentinck was a count of the Holy Roman Empire. He married in 1763 Renira, daughter of Baron de Serooskerken, and by her became the founder of a second English line of Bentincks. He left a son, William Bentinck (1764-1813), who entered the navy, and rose to the rank of vice-admiral.