Earl of Onslow
Encyclopedia
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
. It was created in 1801 for George Onslow, 4th Baron Onslow
George Onslow, 1st Earl of Onslow
George Onslow, 1st Earl of Onslow PC , known as The Lord Onslow from 1776 until 1801, was a British peer and politician....
. The Onslow family descends from Arthur Onslow
Sir Arthur Onslow, 1st Baronet
Sir Arthur Onslow, 1st Baronet was an English politicianThe eldest son of Sir Richard Onslow, an important Parliamentarian from Surrey, Arthur also took an active role in political affairs during the English Civil War. He represented Bramber in the Long Parliament, and Surrey in the First, Second,...
, who represented Bramber
Bramber (UK Parliament constituency)
Bramber was a parliamentary borough in Sussex, one of the most notorious of all the rotten boroughs. It elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in 1295, and again from 1472 until 1832, when the constituency was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:The borough consisted of...
, Sussex
Sussex (UK Parliament constituency)
Sussex was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
and Guildford
Guildford (UK Parliament constituency)
Guildford is a county constituency in Surrey which returns one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system....
in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. He was the husband of Mary, daughter of Thomas Foote
Thomas Foote
Sir Thomas Foote, 1st Baronet was a wealthy grocer of London.In 1646 he was made a Sheriff of London and in 1649 elected Lord Mayor of London. He represented London in the First and Second Protectorate Parliaments....
, Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
in 1649, who had been created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1660 (a title which became extinct on his death in 1687). In 1674 Onslow was himself created a Baronet in the Baronetage of England, with the precedence of 1660.
Onslow was succeeded by his son, the second Baronet. He was a prominent politician and served as Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
from 1708 to 1710 and as Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
from 1713 to 1714. In 1716 he was raised to the Peerage of Great Britain
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
as Baron Onslow, of Onslow in the County of Shropshire and of Clandon in the County of Surrey, with remainder, failing male issue of his own, to his uncle Denzil Onslow
Denzil Onslow (of Pyrford)
Denzil Onslow was a British Whig politician. Through advantageous marriages, he obtained a country estate and became prominent in Surrey politics of the Hanoverian era, although his nephew Arthur Onslow, as Speaker, judged that Denzil knew "no more of the business [of the House of Commons] than...
, and afterwards, to the male heirs of his father. Lord Onslow was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He sat as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Gatton
Gatton (UK Parliament constituency)
Gatton was a parliamentary borough in Surrey, one of the most notorious of all the rotten boroughs. It elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1450 until 1832, when the constituency was abolished by the Great Reform Act...
, Chichester
Chichester (UK Parliament constituency)
Chichester is a county constituency in West Sussex, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
, Bletchingley
Bletchingley (UK Parliament constituency)
Bletchingley was a parliamentary borough in Surrey. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England from 1295 to 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until 1832, when the constituency was...
and Surrey
Surrey (UK Parliament constituency)
Surrey was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament until 1832....
and served as Lord Lieutenant of Surrey
Lord Lieutenant of Surrey
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. Since 1737, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Surrey.-Lord Lieutenants of Surrey:*William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton 1551–1553?...
. His son, the third Baron, represented Guildford in Parliament and served as Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. He was childless and on his death in 1776 the line of the first Baron failed.
Lord Onslow was succeeded according to the special remainder by his cousin and heir male of his grandfather, the fourth Baron. He was the son of Arthur Onslow
Arthur Onslow
Arthur Onslow was an English politician. He set a record for length of service when repeatedly elected to serve as Speaker of the House of Commons, where he was known for his integrity.-Early life and education:...
, Speaker of the House of Commons, elder son of Foot Onslow. He was Member of Parliament for Rye
Rye (UK Parliament constituency)
Rye was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Rye in East Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until its representation was halved under the Reform Act 1832....
and Surrey and notably served as Treasurer of the Household
Treasurer of the Household
The position of Treasurer of the Household is theoretically held by a household official of the British monarch, under control of the Lord Steward's Department, but is, in fact, a political office held by one of the government's Deputy Chief Whips in the House of Commons...
and as Lord Lieutenant of Surrey
Lord Lieutenant of Surrey
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. Since 1737, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Surrey.-Lord Lieutenants of Surrey:*William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton 1551–1553?...
. In May 1776, five months before succeeding in the barony of Onslow, he was raised to the Peerage of Great Britain in his own right as Baron Cranley, of Imber Court in the County of Surrey. In 1801 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Cranley, of Cranley in the County of Surrey, and Earl of Onslow, of Onslow in the County of Shropshire. The latter titles were in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
His son, the second Earl, represented Rye and Guildford in the House of Commons. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the third Earl. He died without surviving male issue and was succeeded by his great-nephew, the fourth Earl. He was the son George Augustus Cranley Onslow, son of the Hon. Thomas Cranley Onslow, second son of the second Earl. Lord Onslow was a prominent Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and served as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies was a junior Ministerial post in the United Kingdom government, subordinate to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and, from 1948, also to a Minister of State....
, as Under-Secretary of State for India
Under-Secretary of State for India
This is a list of Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State and Permanent Under-Secretaries of State at the India Office during the period of British rule between 1866 and 1948, and for Burma from 1858-1948....
and as President of the Board of Agriculture and was also Governor of New Zealand. His eldest son, the fifth Earl, was also a Conservative politician. He notably held office as Under-Secretary of State for War
Under-Secretary of State for War
The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean . In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies...
and as Paymaster-General
Paymaster-General
HM Paymaster General is a ministerial position in the United Kingdom. The Paymaster General is in charge of the Office of HM Paymaster General , which held accounts at the Bank of England on behalf of Government departments and selected other public bodies...
during the 1920s.
He was succeeded by his son, the sixth Earl. He served in the Conservative administrations of Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957...
and Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
(Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
) for nine years. From 1971 to 2011, the titles were held by his son, the seventh Earl, who succeeded in 1971. The 7th Earl was one of the ninety elected hereditary peers who remained in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
, and sat like his ancestors on the Conservative benches. He is the only hereditary peer to have appeared as a panellist on Have I Got News For You
Have I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show...
. Upon his death on 14 May 2011, he was succeeded by his elder son, now the 8th Earl.
Another member of the Onslow family was the Conservative politician Cranley Onslow, Baron Onslow of Woking. He was a descendant of George Onslow, eldest son of Lieutenant-General Richard Onslow, nephew of the first Baron and uncle of the first Earl. Also, Admiral Sir Richard Onslow, 1st Baronet
Sir Richard Onslow, 1st Baronet
Sir Richard Onslow, 1st Baronet GCB was an English naval officer who played a distinguished role at the Battle of Camperdown.-Naval career:...
, was the second son of Lieutenant-General Richard Onslow. See Onslow Baronets of Althain
Onslow Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for the Onslow family, one in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of Great Britain. Both titles are still extant....
for more information on this branch of the family.
The former family seat is Clandon Park
Clandon Park
Clandon Park is an 18th century Palladian mansion in West Clandon just outside Guildford, Surrey, in the United Kingdom. It has been a National Trust property since 1956....
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
Onslow Baronets (1674)
- Sir Arthur Onslow, 1st BaronetSir Arthur Onslow, 1st BaronetSir Arthur Onslow, 1st Baronet was an English politicianThe eldest son of Sir Richard Onslow, an important Parliamentarian from Surrey, Arthur also took an active role in political affairs during the English Civil War. He represented Bramber in the Long Parliament, and Surrey in the First, Second,...
(d. 1688) - Sir Richard Onslow, 2nd BaronetRichard Onslow, 1st Baron OnslowRichard Onslow, 1st Baron Onslow PC was a British Whig Member of Parliament, known as Sir Richard Onslow, 2nd Baronet from 1688 until 1716. He served as the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1708 until 1710 and as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1714 until 1715...
(1654–1717) (created Baron Onslow in 1716)
Barons Onslow (1716)
Title passing from father to son, except where noted.- Richard Onslow, 1st Baron OnslowRichard Onslow, 1st Baron OnslowRichard Onslow, 1st Baron Onslow PC was a British Whig Member of Parliament, known as Sir Richard Onslow, 2nd Baronet from 1688 until 1716. He served as the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1708 until 1710 and as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1714 until 1715...
(1654–1717) - Thomas Onslow, 2nd Baron OnslowThomas Onslow, 2nd Baron OnslowThomas Onslow, 2nd Baron Onslow commissioned the building of Clandon Park in the 1730s.He became 2nd Baron Onslow on the death of his father, Richard Onslow, in 1717...
(1679–1740) - Richard Onslow, 3rd Baron OnslowRichard Onslow, 3rd Baron OnslowRichard Onslow, 3rd Baron Onslow KB was a British peer and politician, styled Hon. Richard Onslow from 1717 to 1740.In 1734, Onslow was returned as Member of Parliament for Guildford, which he represented in 1740...
(1715–1776) - George Onslow, 4th Baron OnslowGeorge Onslow, 1st Earl of OnslowGeorge Onslow, 1st Earl of Onslow PC , known as The Lord Onslow from 1776 until 1801, was a British peer and politician....
(1731–1814) (created Earl of Onslow in 1801), second-cousin of the 3rd Baron
Earls of Onslow (1801)
Title passing from father to son, except where noted.- George Onslow, 1st Earl of OnslowGeorge Onslow, 1st Earl of OnslowGeorge Onslow, 1st Earl of Onslow PC , known as The Lord Onslow from 1776 until 1801, was a British peer and politician....
(1731–1814) - Thomas Onslow, 2nd Earl of OnslowThomas Onslow, 2nd Earl of OnslowThomas Onslow, 2nd Earl of Onslow was an English nobleman and courtier who succeeded to his title in 1814. Originally the Honourable Tom Onslow, he was styled Viscount Cranley from 1801 to 1814...
(1754–1827) - Arthur Onslow, 3rd Earl of Onslow (1777–1870)
- Arthur George Onslow, Viscount Cranley (1820-1856)
- William Onslow, 4th Earl of OnslowWilliam Onslow, 4th Earl of OnslowWilliam Hillier Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow GCMG, PC was a British Conservative politician. He held several governmental positions between 1880 and 1905 and was also Governor of New Zealand between 1889 and 1892....
(1853–1911), great-nephew of the 3rd Earl - Richard Onslow, 5th Earl of OnslowRichard Onslow, 5th Earl of OnslowRichard William Alan Onslow, 5th Earl Onslow GBE, PC , styled Viscount Cranley until 1911, was a British peer, diplomat, parliamentary secretary and government minister.-Background and education:...
(1876–1945) - William Onslow, 6th Earl of OnslowWilliam Onslow, 6th Earl of OnslowWilliam Arthur Bampfylde Onslow, 6th Earl of Onslow KBE MC TD, DL was a British peer and officer in the British Army.Onslow was the eldest son of Richard William Alan Onslow, 5th Earl of Onslow and the Hon...
(1913–1971) - Michael Onslow, 7th Earl of OnslowMichael Onslow, 7th Earl of OnslowMichael William Coplestone Dillon Onslow, 7th Earl of Onslow , styled Viscount Cranley from 1945 to 1971, was a British Conservative politician.-Background and education:...
(1938–2011) - Rupert Onslow, 8th Earl of OnslowRupert Onslow, 8th Earl of OnslowRupert Charles William Bullard Onslow, 8th Earl of Onslow is a British peer.The son of Michael Onslow, 7th Earl of Onslow, by his marriage to Robin Lindsay Bullard, he was educated at Eton College, then at Western Kentucky University and at King's College London where he graduated with a Bachelor...
(b. 1967)
His heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
would appear to be his father's 4th cousin, Anthony Onslow Esq (born 1955), a cadet descendant of the 2nd Earl.