William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough
The Earl of Bessborough | |
|---|---|
Sir Joshua Reynolds | |
| Born | 1704 |
| Died | 11 March 1793 (aged 88–89) |
| Spouse(s) | Caroline Cavendish |
| Issue |
|
| Father | Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough |
| Mother | Sarah Margetson |
William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough
Education
Ponsonby was educated at Trinity College Dublin.[1]
Political life
In 1725 Ponsonby was returned to the Irish House of Commons for Newtownards and in 1727 for County Kilkenny, holding the seat until 1758, when his father died and he took his father's titles.[2] 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
Postmaster General
On 2 June 1759 Ponsonby left the Treasury and was appointed
Upon William Ponsonby's death on 11 March 1793 his son, Frederick Ponsonby, succeeded to his titles.[5]
Family
William Ponsonby was the son of Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough, and his wife Sarah Margetson, and elder brother of John Ponsonby.
On 5 July 1739, William married Lady Caroline Cavendish, eldest daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire, who died in 1760 aged 40.[6]
They had three surviving children:[6]
- Lady Catherine Ponsonby (b. 1742), married Aubrey Beauclerk, 5th Duke of St Albans
- Lady Charlotte Ponsonby (b. 1747), married William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam
- Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough (1758–1844)
References
- Thomas Ulick Sadleirp63: Dublin, Alex Thom and Co, 1935
- ^ Leigh Rayment's historical List of Members of the Irish House of Commons. Cites: Johnston-Liik, Edith Mary (2002). The History of the Irish Parliament 1692-1800 (6 volumes). Ulster Historical Foundation.
- ^ "PONSONBY, William, Visct. Duncannon (1704-93)". historyofparliament.com.
- ^ Barker, George Fisher Russell (1896). . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 46. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ISBN 9780836954890.
- ^ a b Innes (editors), A., E., and M. (1829). The Annual peerage of the British empire for 1829. London: Saunders and Otley. pp. 87–88. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
{{cite book}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Parkstead House: History". Parkstead House. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
External links
- ODNBarticle
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