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Lieutenant General Lord William Henry Cavendish-

Bentinck GCB GCH PC (14 September 1774 – 17 June 1839), known as Lord
William Bentinck, was a British soldier and statesman[1] who served as the
governor of Fort William (Bengal) from 1828 to 1834 and the first Governor-
General of India from 1834 to 1835. He has been credited for significant social
and educational reforms in India, including abolishing sati, forbidding women
to witness the cremations on the ghats of Varanasi,[2] suppressing female
infanticide and human sacrifice.[3] Bentinck said, "the dreadful responsibility
hanging over his head in this world and the next, if… he was to consent to the
continuance of this practice (sati) one moment longer." Bentinck after
consultation with the army and officials passed the Bengal Sati Regulation,
1829.[4] The challenge came from the Dharma Sabha which appealed in
the Privy Council, however the ban on Sati was upheld.[5] He reduced
lawlessness by eliminating thuggee – which had existed for over 450 years –
with the aid of his chief captain, William Henry Sleeman. Along with Thomas
Babington Macaulay he introduced English as the language of instruction in
India.[6][7][8] Mysore was annexed under his presidency.[9]

1 Background[edit]
Bentinck was born in Buckinghamshire, the second son of Prime
Minister William Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, and Lady Dorothy (née
Cavendish), only daughter of William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire. On
the marriage the family name became Cavendish-Bentinck.[10]

He was educated at Westminster School, a boys' public

school in Westminster, London.[11]

2 Early career[edit]
In 1783, at the age of 9, he was given the sinecure of Clerk of the Pipe for life.
[12]

Bentinck joined the Coldstream Guards on 28 January 1791 at the age of 16,
purchasing an ensign's commission.[13] He was promoted to captain-lieutenant
(lieutenant) in the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons on 4 August 1792,[14] and to
captain in the 11th Regiment of Light Dragoons on 6 April 1793.[15] He was
promoted to major in the 28th Foot on 29 March 1794[16] and to lieutenant-
colonel in the 24th Dragoons that July.[17] On 9 January 1798, Bentinck was
promoted to colonel.[18] In 1803 he was, to some surprise, appointed Governor
of Madras, and was promoted to major-general on 1 January 1805.
[19]
Although his tenure was moderately successful, it was brought to an end by
the Vellore Mutiny in 1806, prompted by Bentinck's order that the native
troops be forbidden to wear their traditional attire. Only after serious violence
was order restored and the offending policy rescinded, and Bentinck was
recalled in 1807.

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