Bentham Rainford

1833 – July 1898

Bentham Rainford was the son of Edward Rainford, well-known corn factor who wrote for The Economist, and Maria Burton. Born about 1833 in St Andrews Holborn, he grew up in the printer's trade. His brother Edward Paul Rainford (later Paul Edward) became the British Vice Counsel for Messina, in Sicily, and operated a vineyard and wine manufacturing with his son, Edward Henry Rainford. At that time, Bentham was involved in importing the Sicilian wines. The vineyard operated from about 1870 until 1879 when it was sold "Giardini, Messina, Sicilia, Italy--sale by auction of Messrs P and F Rainford's Wine Factory, Giardini situated on the east coast of Sicily.The property is freehold direct from the Crown. The business is old established and very lucrative; the residence is delightfully situated." Bentham was listed as a wine seller in 1877 but by the 1881 census he had returned to printing.

• Sicily and its wines