Thomas Onslow, 2nd Earl of Onslow
Encyclopedia
Thomas Onslow, 2nd Earl of Onslow (15 March 1754 – 22 February 1827) 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. He died in 1827 at his seat, Clandon Park
in Surrey
.
, Surrey
, the eldest son of the then George Onslow
.
On 30 December 1776, he married Arabella Mainwaring-Ellerker (d. 1782), by whom he had four children:
He subsequently married, on 13 February 1783, Charlotte Duncombe (d. 1819), née Hale, widow of Thomas Duncombe (d. 1779). They had one daughter:
for Rye
in 1775. In 1784, he left Rye and replaced his father's first cousin, Colonel Onslow
, as MP for Guildford
upon the retirement of the latter. He continued to represent that constituency until 1806, when he was replaced by his second son, Thomas Cranley.
A supporter of the Foxite
Whigs
, Onslow was, however, little active in the House of Commons, presenting a petition in 1781 on behalf of a "body of the innholders of England", complaining of the quartering of soldiers upon them. As an associate of the Prince, he was sent to Mrs Fitzherbert to tell her that the Prince had attempted suicide and only she could save his life, and he guarded the door of Fitzherbert's house when she secretly married the prince. However, he later fell out with the Prince, for reasons unknown, voting in favor of Pitt
's regency proposal of 1789 and against the abolition of the slave trade in 1796.
er mainly associated with Surrey
and he made 3 known appearances in first-class
matches from 1801 to 1808 .
, and was known for his mania for driving four-in-hand. His phaeton
, painted black and drawn by "four of the finest black horses in England", was thought by Gronow
to have the appearance of an undertaker's carriage.
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...
.
Family
Onslow was born at Imber Court, Thames DittonThames Ditton
Thames Ditton is a village in Surrey, England, bordering Greater London. It is situated 12.2 miles south-west of Charing Cross between the towns of Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, Esher and East Molesey...
, 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...
, the eldest son of the then George 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....
.
On 30 December 1776, he married Arabella Mainwaring-Ellerker (d. 1782), by whom he had four children:
- Arthur George Onslow, 3rd Earl of Onslow (1777–1870)
- Hon. Thomas Cranley OnslowThomas Cranley OnslowThomas Cranley Onslow was a British politician, the second son of Thomas Onslow, 2nd Earl of Onslow.He married Susannah Elizabeth Hillier on 28 May 1813, and they had several children:...
(1778–1861) - Capt. & Lt-Col. Hon. Mainwaring Edward Onslow (2 October 1779 – 1861)
- Lady Elizabeth Harriet Onslow (d. 18 July 1824)
He subsequently married, on 13 February 1783, Charlotte Duncombe (d. 1819), née Hale, widow of Thomas Duncombe (d. 1779). They had one daughter:
- Lady Georgiana Charlotte Onslow (d. 15 May 1829)
Parliament
Onslow entered the British House of CommonsBritish 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...
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....
in 1775. In 1784, he left Rye and replaced his father's first cousin, Colonel Onslow
George Onslow (British Army officer)
George Onslow was a British politician and army officer, the eldest son of Richard Onslow and his second wife Pooley, and the nephew of Arthur Onslow, Speaker of the House of Commons....
, as MP for 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....
upon the retirement of the latter. He continued to represent that constituency until 1806, when he was replaced by his second son, Thomas Cranley.
A supporter of the Foxite
Foxite
The term Foxite generally refers to an 18th or 19th century British Whig politician who adhered to the ideals and political beliefs of Charles James Fox, the 18th century member of parliament and leader of the Whig party....
Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
, Onslow was, however, little active in the House of Commons, presenting a petition in 1781 on behalf of a "body of the innholders of England", complaining of the quartering of soldiers upon them. As an associate of the Prince, he was sent to Mrs Fitzherbert to tell her that the Prince had attempted suicide and only she could save his life, and he guarded the door of Fitzherbert's house when she secretly married the prince. However, he later fell out with the Prince, for reasons unknown, voting in favor of Pitt
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
's regency proposal of 1789 and against the abolition of the slave trade in 1796.
Cricket
Onslow was an amateur cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er mainly associated with Surrey
Surrey county cricket teams
Surrey county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford.-17th century:...
and he made 3 known appearances in first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches from 1801 to 1808 .
Carriage driving
Onslow was an intimate of the Prince of WalesGeorge IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
, and was known for his mania for driving four-in-hand. His phaeton
Phaeton (carriage)
Phaeton is the early 19th-century term for a sporty open carriage drawn by a single horse or a pair, typically with four extravagantly large wheels, very lightly sprung, with a minimal body, fast and dangerous. It usually had no sidepieces in front of the seats...
, painted black and drawn by "four of the finest black horses in England", was thought by Gronow
Rees Howell Gronow
Rees Howell Gronow , "Captain Gronow", was a Welsh Grenadier Guards officer, an unsuccessful parliamentarian, a dandy and a writer of celebrated reminiscences.-Origins and education:...
to have the appearance of an undertaker's carriage.
External sources
- CricketArchive record
- Gentleman's Magazine v.XCVII (Jan.–Jun. 1827) p. 269