Herbert Bentwich (1856-1932) was a prominent British lawyer, legal scholar, and Zionist leader active in the early 20th-century Jewish national movement. Born in London to a Jewish family of Polish origin, he studied at University College School and University College London before being called to the bar in 1880. As a barrister specializing in commercial law, he made scholarly contributions to legal theory, including works on jurisprudence and international law. He married Susannah Alexander and had several children, notably Norman Bentwich, a legal academic and Zionist. Bentwich's Zionist activism began in the late 19th century, aligning him with Theodor Herzl. He served as president of the English Zionist Federation (1901-1910), advocated for Jewish settlement in Palestine, and supported the Jewish Territorial Organization's efforts to find alternative homelands for persecuted Jews. His writings and speeches emphasized the legal and moral basis for Jewish self-determination, influencing British policy discussions on the Balfour Declaration. His legacy as a foundational figure in British Zionism bridges legal expertise with political advocacy, and his family's involvement in Jewish and Israeli affairs continues through descendants like journalist Ari Shavit.