William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, 5th Duke of Portland

William John Cavendish -Scott - Bentinck, 5th Duke of Portland ( * September 18, 1800; † December 6, 1879 ) was a British aristocrat who preferred life in seclusion. He was known as an eccentric.

Life

Cavendish -Scott - Bentinck was the second son of William Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland, and his wife Henrietta. He was taught at home and in general with his second name John called because all the male members of the family were named William. One of his sisters later married Evelyn Denison, 1st Viscount Ossington.

From 1818 to 1823 Cavendish -Scott - Bentinck served in the British Army, among others, at the 2nd Life Guards. The following year, his oldest brother died, so he is now heir to the courtesy title Marquess of Titchfield led. He also took his seat in the House of Commons, a position he held until 1826. However, his poor health forced him to resign, he was succeeded by his uncle Lord William Cavendish Bentinck - after. In the next few years he lived at times on the continent, but was always plagued by memory loss and sciatica.

Prior to 1854 the title of Duke inherited, he was not noticed as an eccentric. All of a sudden he turned away from the company and tried to steer clear of any human contact. In 1857 he retired to his country seat Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire and communicated back from now on only in writing with the outside world. His servants were not allowed to speak to him and warde instructed not to take note of it. If he was traveling in a carriage, he kept a low profile so that no one got him to face. In his last years he left his possessions at night only. In 1879, he died.

The reason for his strange behavior after 1857 is still unclear.