Jan was born on the 30th of July in the place called Huis Schoonheten as the eighth child and fifth son of Berend Hendrik Bentinck, Lord of Schoonheten and Diepenheim and Bonne Elisabeth Juriana du Tertre.

An hour after, Jan laid on the deck, being hit by a cannonball on his left shoulder.

Because of his injury he had to give up command of his ship, three hours afterwards the Batavier had 18 dead and 49 injured crewmen on board.

Jan was taken to Amsterdam to the fiscal attorney of its respective admiralty, where he died on the 24th of August, 1781.

Bentinck received a state funeral and mausoleum in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, at his country's expense.