A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bentham, George
BENTHAM, K.St.M. and L. (Captain, 1816. f-p., 16; h-p., 36.)
George Bentham, born in June, 1787, is son of Lieut.-Gen. Wm. Bentham, R.A.
This officer entered the Navy, in 1795, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Pluto sloop, and, after an attachment of some months, in 1798, to the Alkmaar, Capt. Burden, became Midshipman, in 1799, of the Ruey 64, Capt. Hon. Alan Hyde Gardner, with whom, and Hon. Fras. Farington Gardner, he continued to serve, in the same ship, and in the Resolution 74, Galykheid 64, and Hero 74, until June, 1807. While in the latter ship, of which he was created a Lieutentant 24 Dec. 1805, Mr. Bentham officiated as Aide-de-Camp to his Captain in Sir Robt. Calder’s and Sir Rich. Strachan’s actions. On his return from a voyage to the West Indies, in June, 1807, he was appointed to the Téméraire 98, commanded in the Channel by Capt. Sir Chas. Hamilton, but in June, 1810, rejoined his patron, then Lord Gardner, as his Flag-Lieutenant, in the Bellerophon 74. On 19 June, 1809, we find his volunteered assistance materially contributing to the successful issue of an attempt made to storm a battery of four long 24-pounders and 103 men, on the coast of Finland – an exploit which received the due acknowledgments of the Admiralty.[1] While afterwards serving with Lord Gardner in the Roebuck 50, he was appointed by that nobleman to the command, 7 Oct. 1810, of the Briseis, of 10 guns and 75 men. For his gallantry on 14 of the same month, in capturing, after a chase of eight hours, and a desperate conflict of one, in which the enemy had 8 killed and 19 wounded, and the British 4 killed and 11 badly wounded, the French privateer Sans Souci of 14 guns and 55 men, Capt. Bentham’s promotion was confirmed by commission dated back to the day of the action.[2] His subsequent appointments were – 14 Dec. 1812, to the Urgent 12, on the Home station – 8 Oct. 1813, to the Carnation 18, in the West Indies, where his exertions in saving the Dockyard at Port Royal from destruction by fire obtained for him the strongest recommendations – 29 Nov. 1815, as Acting-Captain, to the North Star 28, on the same station – and 6 July, 1816, to the Heron 18. In consideration of his services in the latter vessel at the battle of Algiers, on which occasion he was stationed within a few yards of the Queen Charlotte, and was the Senior Commander present, Capt. Bentham was rewarded by advancement to Post-rank, 16 Sept. 1816.[3] He accepted the retirement 1 Oct. 1846.
As an acknowledgment for his having conveyed to Genoa, while in the Heron, the treasure reclaimed by the King of Sardinia from the Dey, Capt. Bentham was invested by that Sovereign with the Second Class of the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazare. He married, 7 June, 1827, Emma Pellew, daughter of the Rev. John Parker, and niece of Admiral Lord Exmouth. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.