Lieutenant-General Lord W C Bentinck, 1813

Stipple engraving by H R Cook after Sir Thomas Lawrence, published by P Martin, 1 February 1813.

Bentinck (1774-1839) was haunted by the disgrace which had overtaken him in 1806, when, as Governor of Madras, he had been held partly responsible for the bloody mutiny at Vellore. His period as Commander-in-Chief (1833-1835) and Governor-General in India (1827-1835) is memorable for his record of social reform and willingness to confront the military over the 'batta' (field allowance) question.