Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough
The Earl of Bessborough | |
|---|---|
 Lord Bessborough by Samuel William Reynolds. | |
| Born | Hon. Frederick Ponsonby 24 January 1758 Marylebone, London, England |
| Died | 3 February 1844 (aged 86) Canford House, Dorset, England |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Issue | |
| Father | William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough |
| Mother | Lady Caroline Cavendish |
Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough DCL (24 January 1758 – 3 February 1844), styled the Viscount Duncannon from 1758 to 1793, was an Anglo-Irish peer.[1]
Background[]
Ponsonby was the eldest son of Viscount Duncannon (who succeeded as the 2nd Earl of Bessborough in July 1758) and Lady Caroline Cavendish, daughter of The 3rd Duke of Devonshire. He succeeded to his father's titles in 1793. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and obtained the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Civil Law.[2]
As Viscount Duncannon, he sat in the House of Commons as member for Knaresborough from 1780 until his succession to his father's earldom. He was a Lord of the Admiralty in 1782–83.[1][3]
Reputation[]
Bessborough usually made a favourable first impression: quiet, but with "the most mild and amiable manner". On the other hand, he was a notoriously bad husband, alternating between neglecting Henrietta and insulting her in public. While there were arguably faults on both sides – she was also addicted to gambling and had numerous love affairs – society in general judged him to be the greater offender. In 1791 Harriet's serious illness gave rise to rumours, apparently quite unfounded, that he was trying to kill her.[4]
Marriage and issue[]
On 27 November 1780, he had married Lady Henrietta Spencer, second daughter of John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer. The marriage was notoriously unhappy.[5] Bessborough began divorce proceedings in 1790, but under intense pressure from his relatives dropped them. They had four children:[1]
- John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough (1781–1847); married Lady Maria Fane (daughter of John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland) on 16 November 1805. They had 14 children.
- Major General Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby (1783–1837); married Lady Emily Bathurst (daughter Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst), on 16 March 1825. They had six children.
- Lady Caroline Lamb (1785–1828); married 2nd Viscount Melbourne, the Prime Minister in 1805. They had two children.
- William Francis Spencer, 1st Baron de Mauley (1787–1855); married Lady Barbara Ashley-Cooper (the only daughter and heir of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 5th Earl of Shaftesbury) on 8 August 1814. They had three children.
In 1821, Lady Bessborough died suddenly of a "chill" caught while travelling in Italy. Her husband outlived her by more than 20 years, dying at Canford House, Dorset, in 1844.[6]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 361. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.
- ^ Oxford, University of (1888). Alumni Oxonienses: The Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Parker and Company. p. 1128.
- ^ Namier, Lewis; Brooke, John (1985). The House of Commons 1754–1790. Boydell & Brewer. p. 306. ISBN 9780436304200.
- ^ Foreman, Amanda Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire HarperCollins 1998 pp.201-2, 254-5
- ^ Foreman pp.201-2, 254-5
- ^ Cecil, Lord David (2017). The Young Melbourne & Lord M. Pan Macmillan. p. 112. ISBN 9781509854936.
External links[]
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Bessborough
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- 1758 births
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- Ponsonby family
- Lords of the Admiralty
- Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies
- British MPs 1780–1784
- British MPs 1784–1790
- British MPs 1790–1796
- Earls of Bessborough