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 Clandon Park House is an early 18th-century grade I listed Palladian mansion in West Clandon, near Guildford in Surrey. It stands in the south east corner of Clandon Park, a agricultural parkland estate which has been the seat of the Earls of ...

in Surrey.

Family

Onslow was born at Imber Court,

Thames Ditton Thames Ditton is a suburban village on the River Thames, in the Elmbridge borough of Surrey, England. Apart from a large inhabited island in the river, it lies on the southern bank, centred 12.2 miles (19.6 km) southwest of Charing Cross ...

, Surrey, the eldest son of the then

George Onslow George Onslow may refer to: *George Onslow (British Army officer) (1731–1792), British politician and army officer *George Onslow, 1st Earl of Onslow (1731–1814), British peer and politician *George Onslow (composer) André George(s) Louis ...

, later the 1st Earl. and Henrietta Shelley, daughter of Sir John Shelley, 4th Baronet and his second wife Margaret Pelham.''Burke's'': 'Onslow'. On 30 December 1776, he married Arabella Mainwaring-Ellerker (d. 11 April 1782), by whom he had four children: *

Arthur George Onslow, 3rd Earl of Onslow Arthur George Onslow, 3rd Earl of Onslow (25 October 1777-October 1870) was a British peer. He was the eldest child of the 2nd Earl and his wife Arabella Mainwaring-Ellerker (died 1782). On 21 July 1818 he married Mary Fludyer, eldest daughter ...

(1777–1870) *

Thomas Cranley Onslow Thomas Cranley Onslow (7 October 1778 – 7 July 1861), of Stoke Park, Guildford, and Upton House, Hampshire, was a British politician and British Army officer, the second son of Thomas Onslow, 2nd Earl of Onslow.''Burke's'': 'Onslow'. He marrie ...

(1778–1861) *

Capt. Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

& Lt-Col. Mainwaring Edward Onslow,

Scots Fusilier Guards The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the ...

(2 October 1779 – 1861) * Lady Elizabeth Harriet Onslow (d. 18 July 1824) He subsequently married, on 13 February 1783, Charlotte Duncombe (d. 25 April 1819), née Hale, widow of Thomas Duncombe (d. 1779). They had one daughter: * Lady Georgiana Charlotte Onslow (d. 15 May 1829)

Career

Parliament

Onslow entered the

British House of Commons The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. The House of Commons is an elected body consisting of 650 mem ...

for Rye in 1775. In 1784, he left Rye and replaced his father's first cousin, Colonel Onslow, as MP for

Guildford Guildford () is a town in west Surrey, around southwest of central London. As of the 2011 census, the town has a population of about 77,000 and is the seat of the wider Borough of Guildford, which had around inhabitants in . The name "Guildf ...

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 was a late 18th-century British political label for Whig followers of Charles James Fox. Fox was the generally acknowledged leader of a faction of the Whigs from 1784 to his death in 1806. The group had developed from successive earlier ...

Whigs, Onslow was, however, rarely 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 Regent, he was sent to

Mrs Fitzherbert Maria Anne Fitzherbert (''née'' Smythe, previously Weld; 26 July 1756 – 27 March 1837) was a longtime companion of George, Prince of Wales (later King George IV of the United Kingdom). In 1785, they secretly contracted a marriage that was i ...

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 favour of Pitt's regency proposal of 1789 and against the abolition of the slave trade in 1796.

Militia

He was appointed

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

of the 1st Surrey Supplementary Militia (later 2nd Royal Surrey Militia) on 2 January 1797 on the recommendation of his father, who was

Lord Lieutenant of Surrey This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. Since 1737, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Surrey. Lord Lieutenants of Surrey *William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton 1551–1553? *William Howard, ...

. His son Arthur George Onslow was a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

in the regiment. He resigned from the command in 1812 and handed it over to his second son, Thomas Cranley.Davis, pp. 121–9; Appendix A.'The Onslows' at Queen's Royal Surreys.
/ref>

Sport

Cricket

Onslow was an amateur

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

er mainly associated with

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

and he made 3 known appearances in first-class matches from 1801 to 1808.Haygarth.

Carriage driving

Onslow was an intimate of the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...

, 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 A funeral director, also known as an undertaker (British English) or mortician (American English), is a professional involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks often entail the embalming and burial or cremation of the dead, as w ...

's carriage. He was the subject of numerous satirical verses on the subject, such as "What cam Tommy Onslow do/ he can drive a coach and two?/Can Tommy Onslow do more/Yes drive a coach and four".

Notes

References

* * ''Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage,'' 100th Edn, London, 1953.
Capt John Davis, ''Historical Records of the Second Royal Surrey or Eleventh Regiment of Militia'', London: Marcus Ward, 1877.
* ''Gentleman's Magazine'' v.XCVII (Jan.–Jun. 1827) p. 269 *

Arthur Haygarth Arthur Haygarth (4 August 1825 – 1 May 1903) was a noted amateur cricketer who became one of cricket's most significant historians. He played first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club and Sussex between 1844 and 1861, as well as num ...

, ''Scores & Biographies'', Volume 1 (1744–1826), Lillywhite, 1862.

External sources

CricketArchive record
*
Queen's Royal Surreys
{{DEFAULTSORT:Onslow, Thomas Onslow, 2nd Earl Of 1754 births 1827 deaths English cricketers English cricketers of 1787 to 1825 Surrey cricketers 2 Onslow, Tom Cranley, Thomas Onslow, Viscount People from Thames Ditton Cranley, Thomas Onslow, Viscount Cranley, Thomas Onslow, Viscount UK MPs who inherited peerages Onslow, Thomas 2nd Earl of Onslow Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers British MPs 1774–1780 British MPs 1780–1784 British MPs 1784–1790 British MPs 1790–1796 British MPs 1796–1800 Surrey Militia officers