William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough
William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough PC PC (Ire) (1704 – 11 March 1793) was a British politician and public servant. He 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 also a Privy Counsellor, Chief Secretary for Ireland and Earl of Bessborough.
The Earl of Bessborough
1704
11 March 1793 (aged 88–89)
Caroline Cavendish
- Catherine Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans
- Charlotte Fitzwilliam, Countess Fitzwilliam
- Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough
Sarah Margetson
Education[edit]
Ponsonby was educated at Trinity College Dublin.[1]
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]
Parkstead House, Roehampton, was built in 1750 for William Ponsonby,[7] and now forms part of Roehampton University.