George Ponsonby (Junior Lord of the Treasury)

The Hon. George Ponsonby (1773 – 5 June 1863), was an Irish politician, who served as a Junior Lord of the Treasury in the governments under Earl Grey (his brother-in-law) and Lord Melbourne from 1832 to 1834.[1]


George Ponsonby
Member of Parliament for Youghal
In office
1826–1832
Preceded byJohn Hyde
Succeeded byJohn O'Connell
Member of Parliament for Cork County
In office
1806–1812
Preceded byHenry Boyle, Viscount Boyle
Robert Uniacke Fitzgerald
Succeeded byJames Bernard
Richard Hare, Viscount Ennismore
Member of Parliament for Kilkenny County
In office
1806–1806
Preceded byWilliam Ponsonby
James Wandesford Butler
Succeeded byJames Wandesford Butler
Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby
Member of Parliament for Lismore
In office
1796–1798
Preceded byRobert Paul
Sir Richard Musgrave
Succeeded bySir Henry Cavendish, 2nd Bt
Sir Richard Musgrave
Personal details
Born1773
Died6 June 1863(1863-06-06) (aged 89–90)
Spouse(s)
Sarah Gledstanes
(m. 1807; died 1808)

Diana Juliana Margaretta Bouverie
(m. 1812; his death 1863)
Children3
ParentsWilliam Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby
Hon. Louisa Molesworth
Alma materTrinity College Dublin

Early life

He was the fourth of five sons and one daughter born to William Brabazon Ponsonby by his wife, Hon. Louisa Molesworth. Among his siblings were the diplomat John Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Ponsonby, Hon. Sir William Ponsonby, a major-general in the army was killed at the Battle of Waterloo, Richard Ponsonby, who became Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora, Derry, and Derry and Raphoe, and Mary Ponsonby, who married the Prime Minister, Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey.

His mother was the fourth daughter of Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth and the former Mary Jenney Ussher (daughter of the Rev. William Ussher, Archdeacon of Clonfert).[2] His paternal grandparents were the Hon. John Ponsonby, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons (and second son of Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough) and the former Lady Elizabeth Cavendish (a daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire). His aunt, Frances Ponsonby, was the wife of Cornelius O'Callaghan, 1st Baron Lismore.

Ponsonby graduated from Trinity College Dublin on 7 March 1791 at age 18.[3]

Career

Ponsonby was a member of Lincoln's Inn in 1794, and was called in 1797.[3]

He represented Lismore in the Irish House of Commons between 1796 and 1798. He was then elected as a Member of Parliament at a by-election for Kilkenny County in 1806 on his father, previously the sitting member, being elevated to the peerage as 1st Baron Ponsonby of Imokilly, but a general election quickly followed when he was replaced in this seat by his younger brother Hon. Frederick Ponsonby.[3]

Ponsonby subsequently succeeded his cousin, Henry Boyle, Viscount Boyle, and served as for Cork County from 1806 to 1812; for Youghal in County Cork from 1826 to 1832.[3]

Personal life

On 7 April 1807, Ponsonby was married to Sarah Gledstanes (d. 1808), a daughter of John Jacob Gledstanes of Annesgift. Before her death on 18 July 1808, they were the parents of one son, who predeceased him.[3]

On 11 June 1812, he married Diana Juliana Margaretta Bouverie (1786–1873), the youngest daughter of the former Harriet Fawkener (daughter of Sir Everard Fawkener) and Hon. Edward Bouverie, MP for Salisbury and Northampton. After Diana's father died, her mother remarried to Lord Robert Spencer (the son of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough), who was considered to be Diana's actual father, and who left her the bulk of his estate.[4] Diana and George lived at Woolbeding House in Sussex, and were the parents of one son, and one daughter:[3]

Ponsonby died on 5 June 1863.[2]

References

  1. 'Treasurers and Commissioners of the Treasury 1660—1870', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 1: Treasury Officials 1660-1870 (1972), pp. 16-25.. Date accessed: 19 August 2008.
  2. Burke's Peerage (1939 edition), s.v. Bessborough, Earl of
  3. "PONSONBY, Hon. George (?1773-1863), of Woolbeding, Suss". historyofparliamentonline.org. History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  4. "BOUVERIE, Hon. Edward I (1738-1810), of Delapré Abbey, nr. Northampton". History of Parliament Online (1754-1790). Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  5. O'Byrne, William Richard (1849). "Howard, Edward Granville George" . A Naval Biographical Dictionary . John Murray via Wikisource.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by
Robert Paul
Sir Richard Musgrave, 1st Bt
Member of Parliament for Lismore
1796–1797
With: Sir Richard Musgrave, 1st Bt
Succeeded by
Sir Henry Cavendish, 2nd Bt
Sir Richard Musgrave, 1st Bt
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
William Ponsonby
James Wandesford Butler
Member of Parliament for Kilkenny County
1806
With: James Wandesford Butler
Succeeded by
James Wandesford Butler
Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby
Preceded by
Henry Boyle, Viscount Boyle
Robert Uniacke Fitzgerald
Member of Parliament for Cork County
18061812
With: Henry Boyle, Viscount Boyle 1806–1807
James Bernard 1807–1812
Succeeded by
James Bernard
Richard Hare, Viscount Ennismore
Preceded by
John Hyde
Member of Parliament for Youghal
18261832
Succeeded by
John O'Connell
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