William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough
Encyclopedia
William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough PC PC (I)
(1704 – 11 March 1793) was an Irish
and English
peer
and member of the House of Lords
, styled Hon. William Ponsonby from 1723 to 1739 and Viscount Duncannon from 1739 to 1758. He served in both the Irish
and the British House of Commons
before entering the House of Lords, and held office as a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, and as Postmaster General of the United Kingdom.
He was a Privy Counsellor, Chief Secretary for Ireland
, Postmaster General of the United Kingdom, Earl of Bessborough
, Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty.
and his wife Sarah Margetson and elder brother of John Ponsonby. On July 5, 1739, William married, Lady Caroline Cavendish, the eldest daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
who died in 1760 aged 40. They had three surviving children:
Parkstead House, Roehampton
, was built in 1750 for William Ponsonby, and now forms part of Roehampton University
.
for Newtownards
and in 1727 for County Kilkenny
, holding the seat until 1758 when his father died. From 1741 to 1745, he served as Chief Secretary for Ireland
under his father-in-law, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
.
As Viscount Duncannon, Ponsonby was first appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty on 27 June 1746, a position he held until 1756, when he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. He also represented the British constituencies of Derby from 1742—1754, Saltash from 1754–1756 and Harwick from 1756–1758. Upon the death of his father on 4 July 1758, Ponsonby succeeded him in the House of Lords under the title Baron Ponsonby of Sysonby on 23 November of that year.
, was dismissed as Lord Chamberlain
in October 1762. He was reappointed to the position (and sworn of the Privy Council) in July 1765 jointly with Thomas Robinson, 1st Baron Grantham
until he resigned in 1766, his initial offer to resign having being refused.
Upon Bessborough's death on 11 March 1793, his son Frederick succeeded to his titles.
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(1704 – 11 March 1793) was an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and member of 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....
, styled Hon. William Ponsonby from 1723 to 1739 and Viscount Duncannon from 1739 to 1758. He served in both the Irish
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
and the British 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...
before entering the House of Lords, and held office as a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, and as Postmaster General of the United Kingdom.
He was a Privy Counsellor, Chief Secretary for Ireland
Chief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
, Postmaster General of the United Kingdom, Earl of Bessborough
Earl of Bessborough
Earl of Bessborough is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1739 for Brabazon Ponsonby, 2nd Viscount Duncannon, who had previously represented Newtownards and County Kildare in the Irish House of Commons...
, Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty.
Family life
William was the first-born son of Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of BessboroughBrabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough
Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough was a British politician and peer. He was the son of William Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Duncannon and Mary Moore. He was an active politician from 1705 to 1757 in Great Britain and Ireland. He represented Newtownards and County Kildare in the Irish House of...
and his wife Sarah Margetson and elder brother of John Ponsonby. On July 5, 1739, William married, Lady Caroline Cavendish, the eldest daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire, KG, PC was a British nobleman and Whig politician, the son of William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire and Hon. Rachel Russell....
who died in 1760 aged 40. They had three surviving children:
- Lady Catherine Ponsonby (b. 1742), married Aubrey Beauclerk, 5th Duke of St AlbansAubrey Beauclerk, 5th Duke of St AlbansAubrey Beauclerk, 5th Duke of St Albans was the son of Admiral the 1st Baron Vere and a grandson of the 1st Duke of St Albans...
- Lady Charlotte Ponsonby (b. 1750), married William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl FitzwilliamWilliam FitzWilliam, 4th Earl FitzWilliamWilliam Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam PC , styled Viscount Milton until 1756, was a British Whig statesman of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1782 he inherited his uncle Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham's estates, making him one of the richest people in...
- Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of BessboroughFrederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of BessboroughFrederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough was a British peer.Ponsonby was the eldest son of the 2nd Earl of Bessborough and succeeded to his father's titles in 1793...
(1758–1844)
Parkstead House, Roehampton
Roehampton
Roehampton is a district in south-west London, forming the western end of the London Borough of Wandsworth. It lies between the town of Barnes to the north, Putney to the east and Wimbledon Common to the south. The Richmond Park golf courses are west of the neighbourhood, and just south of these is...
, was built in 1750 for William Ponsonby, and now forms part of Roehampton University
Roehampton University
The University of Roehampton is a campus university in the United Kingdom, situated on three major sites in Roehampton, south-west London.-History:...
.
Political life
In 1725 Ponsonby was returned to the Irish House of CommonsIrish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
for Newtownards
Newtownards (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Newtownards was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-1692–1801:...
and in 1727 for County Kilkenny
Kilkenny County (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Kilkenny County was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Kilkenny County was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...
, holding the seat until 1758 when his father died. From 1741 to 1745, he served as Chief Secretary for Ireland
Chief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
under his father-in-law, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
As Viscount Duncannon, Ponsonby was first appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty on 27 June 1746, a position he held until 1756, when he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. He also represented the British constituencies of Derby from 1742—1754, Saltash from 1754–1756 and Harwick from 1756–1758. Upon the death of his father on 4 July 1758, Ponsonby succeeded him in the House of Lords under the title Baron Ponsonby of Sysonby on 23 November of that year.
Postmaster General
On 2 June 1759, Ponsonby left the Treasury and was appointed Postmaster General of Great Britain jointly with Robert Hampden-Trevor, 1st Viscount Hampden. He resigned the position when his brother-in-law, William Cavendish, 4th Duke of DevonshireWilliam Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, KG, PC , styled Lord Cavendish before 1729 and Marquess of Hartington between 1729 and 1755, was a British Whig statesman who was briefly nominal Prime Minister of Great Britain...
, was dismissed as Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
in October 1762. He was reappointed to the position (and sworn of the Privy Council) in July 1765 jointly with Thomas Robinson, 1st Baron Grantham
Thomas Robinson, 1st Baron Grantham
Thomas Robinson, 1st Baron Grantham, KB, PC was a British diplomatist and politician. He was a younger son of Sir William Robinson, Bt...
until he resigned in 1766, his initial offer to resign having being refused.
Upon Bessborough's death on 11 March 1793, his son Frederick succeeded to his titles.
External links
- ODNB article