Read eBooks online | World Heritage Encyclopedia | Winifred Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland

Winifred Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland

Winifred Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland

Her Grace
The Duchess of Portland
Winifred Anna Dallas-Yorke by Philip de László,1912
Born Winifred Anna Dallas-Yorke
(1863-09-07)September 7, 1863
Died July 30, 1954(1954-07-30) (aged 90)
Nottinghamshire, England, UK
Spouse(s) William John Arthur James Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland (1857-1943)
Children

Lady Victoria Alexandrina Violet Cavendish-Bentinck (1890–1994), William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 7th Duke of Portland (1893–1977)

Lord Francis Morven Dallas Cavendish-Bentinck (1900–1950),
Parents Thomas Yorke Dallas-Yorke (father)
Frances Graham (mother)

Winifred Anna Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland DBE JP (née Dallas-Yorke; 7 September 1863 – 30 July 1954) was a British humanitarian and animal rights activist.[1]

Background

Born at Murthly Castle, Perthshire, she was the daughter of Thomas Yorke Dallas-Yorke and Frances Graham.

She was Mistress of the Robes to HM Queen Alexandra from 1913 until Alexandra's death in 1925. She was a Justice of the Peace for Nottinghamshire.

Family

She married William John Arthur James Cavendish-Bentinck on 11 June 1889. They had three children:

Affiliations

Winifred, Duchess of Portland, oil on canvas, John Singer Sargent, 1902

In 1891 she became the first (and longest serving) president of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds[2] and was vice-president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She was also president of the ladies committee of the RSPCA.

She was elected to be the third President of the Nottinghamshire Beekeepers' Association in 1907.

Social reform

In 1889, she persuaded the duke to use a large portion of his horseracing winnings to build almshouses at Welbeck, which he named "The Winnings". She cared greatly for the local miners and supported them by paying for medical treatments, and organising cooking and sewing classes for their daughters.
"In addition to the famous racing stables, where a number of the Duke of Portland's most celebrated horses (including "St. Simon") were to be seen, there is a group of substantially built almshouses, known as "The Winnings," which were erected by the Duke at the request of his wife out of the money won in seven races, viz., the Two Thousand Guineas in 1888 by "Ayrshire", the Derby and St. Leger in 1889 by "Donovan", the Oaks and St. Leger in 1890 by "Memoir", and the One Thousand Guineas in 1890 by "Semolina".[3]

Honours

In honor of her support the Nottinghamshire Miners' Welfare Association petitioned the king and she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).

Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa in Spain.[4]

Legacy

In 2010, a collection of jewels belonging to the Duchess was auctioned at Christies, including antique pearl and diamond brooches,[5] and the Portland sapphire tiara.[6]

Court offices
Preceded by
The Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry 		Mistress of the Robes to
Queen Alexandra
1912–1925 		Succeeded by
—

References

  1. ^ Nicholas Hammond. "Bentinck, Winifred Anna Cavendish- [née Winifred Anna Dallas-Yorke], duchess of Portland (1863–1954)". Oxford of Dictionary National Biography. Retrieved 19 October 2012. 
  2. ^ Barbara T. Gates (15 February 1999). Kindred Nature: Victorian and Edwardian Women Embrace the Living World. University of Chicago Press. p. 115. ISBN . Retrieved 19 October 2012. 
  3. ^ http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/articles/tts/tts1899/welbeck1.htm
  4. ^ Geneall
  5. ^ Penton, Keith. "Specialist selection". Christies. 
  6. ^ "Portland sapphire tiara". Order of Splendor. 

External links

  • Biography of the Duchess, with links to online catalogues, from Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham
  • http://www.rotherhamweb.co.uk/h/welbeck.htm