Winifred Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland
| Her Grace The Duchess of Portland DBE JP | |
|---|---|
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| Winifred Anna Dallas-Yorke by Philip de László, 1912 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Winifred Anna Dallas-Yorke September 7, 1863 Murthly Castle, Perthshire |
| Died | July 30, 1954 (aged 90) Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire |
| 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 only daughter of Thomas Yorke Dallas-Yorke of Walmsgate, Lincolnshire, and Frances (née Graham).[2]
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:
- Lady Victoria Alexandrina Violet Cavendish-Bentinck (27 February 1890 – 8 May 1994); she married Captain Michael Erskine-Wemyss and had issue
- William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 7th Duke of Portland (1893–1977); he married Ivy Gordon-Lennox and had issue
- Lord Francis Morven Dallas Cavendish-Bentinck (27 July 1900 – 22 August 1950)
Affiliations
The Duchess of Portland was a passionate animal lover, who kept stables for old horses and ponies, as well as dogs needing homes.[2] In 1891, she became the first (and longest serving) president of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds[3] 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."[2] She cared greatly for the local miners and supported them by paying for medical treatments, and organising cooking and sewing classes for their daughters. She also sponsored a miner, with an interest in art, to study in London.[2]
"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".[4]
Honours
In honor of her support, the Nottinghamshire Miners' Welfare Association petitioned the king on her behalf; and in 1935 she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) on his silver jubilee.[2]
She was also made a Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa in Spain.[5]
Legacy
In 2010, a collection of jewels belonging to the Duchess was auctioned at Christies, including antique pearl and diamond brooches,[6] and the Portland sapphire tiara.[7]
| Court offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry |
Mistress of the Robes to Queen Alexandra 1912–1925 |
Succeeded by — |
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "The Dowager Duchess of Portland". The Times (The Times Digital Archive). 31 July 1954. p. 8.
- ↑ Barbara T. Gates (15 February 1999). Kindred Nature: Victorian and Edwardian Women Embrace the Living World. University of Chicago Press. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-226-28443-9. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ↑ "The Summer Excursion". Nottingham History. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ↑ Geneall
- ↑ Penton, Keith. "Specialist selection". Christies.
- ↑ "Portland sapphire tiara". Order of Splendor.