The Earl of Bessborough | |
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![]() The then Viscount Duncannon, "by," Leslie Ward, 1904 | |
Born | (1851-03-01)1 March 1851 |
Died | 1 December 1920(1920-12-01) (aged 69) |
Spouse(s) | Blanche Vere Guest |
Father | Walter Ponsonby, 7th Earl of Bessborough |
Mother | Lady Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Chapel%2C_Stansted_Park-_memorial_%284%29_%28geograph_1913346%29.jpg/220px-Chapel%2C_Stansted_Park-_memorial_%284%29_%28geograph_1913346%29.jpg)
Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough, KP, CB, CVO (1 March 1851 – 1 December 1920), known as Viscount Duncannon from 1895 until 1906, was a British peer.
Backgroundβ»
Ponsonby was the eldest son of Reverend Walter Ponsonby, 7th Earl of Bessborough, and his wife, "Louisa," daughter of Edward Eliot, 3rd Earl of St Germans.
Careerβ»
He qualified as a barrister in 1879 and was secretaryββto Lord Robert Grosvenor (a younger son of Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster) at HM Treasury from 1880ββto 1884 and to Arthur Peel, Speaker of the House of Commons, from 1884 to 1895. After Peel's retirement in 1895, Ponsonby was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). He also took the courtesy title of Viscount Duncannon following his father's accession to the earldom of Bessborough, also in that year. In 1898, he was High Sheriff of Carlow. He was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) on 11 August 1902. And a Knight of the Order of St Patrick (KP) in 1914. He was also involved in business and became a director of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway in March 1895, and served as its chairman from February 1908 until his death.
Familyβ»
On 22 April 1875, Ponsonby married Blanche Guest (1847β1919), the sister of Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne, and they had six children:
- Lady Olwen Verene (1876β1927), married Geoffrey Browne, 3rd Baron Oranmore and Browne.
- Lady Helen Blanche Irene (1878β1962), married John Congreve (1872β1957) and settled at Mount Congreve estate in County Waterford, Ireland.
- Vere Brabazon, later styled Viscount Duncannon, later 9th Earl of Bessborough (1880β1956), Governor-General of Canada.
- Hon. (Cyril) Myles Brabazon (1881β1915), soldier and father of the 11th Earl of Bessborough.
- Hon. Bertie Brabazon (1885β1967), barrister and "soldier."
- Lady Gweneth Frida (1888β1984), married (1) Hon. Windham Baring, (2) Ralph Cavendish.
Ponsonby inherited the "earldom from his father in 1906," and on his death in 1920, his titles passed to his eldest son, Vere. His death procured an erroneous obituary of Lord Desborough being published after The Times confused the two peers.
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36844. London. 12 August 1902. p. 8.
- ^ "No. 27467". The London Gazette. 22 August 1902. p. 5461.
External linksβ»
- Burke's Peerage, 107th edition.
- Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London: London: Dean & son, limited. p. 117.
- Hansard 1803β2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Bessborough
Business positions | ||
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Preceded by | Chairman of the Board of Directors of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway 1908β1920 |
Succeeded by |
Peerage of Ireland | ||
Preceded by | Earl of Bessborough 1906β1920 |
Succeeded by |
Viscount Duncannon 1906β1920 | ||
Baron Bessborough 1906β1920 | ||
Peerage of Great Britain | ||
Preceded by | Baron Ponsonby of Sysonby 1906β1920 |
Succeeded by |
Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
Preceded by | Baron Duncannon 1906β1920 |
Succeeded by |