Richard Bentley was an architect and draughtsman active in the 18th century. He was born in 1708, son of the scholar, Dr. Richard Bentley.
Bentley is most famous perhaps for being an associate of Horace Walpole. From 1751-1761, he advised and helped Walpole design his Gothic villa at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, England. His drawings for Walpole's villa are in the US in the Lewis Collection, Farmington, Connecticut.
In addtion to architectural designs, Bentley is also known to have provided drawings for Thomas Gray's illustrated poems, published in 1753 by the Strawberry Hill Press.
After a famous clash of ideas with Walpole, over his designs for Strawberry Hill, Bentley turned his attention to play writing, penning the tragedy, Philodamus. It was not a successful career change.
He later moved abroad, living in France and Jersey. After returning to England, he retired to Westminster. He died in 1782.