EARL OF

See also:

• ONSLOW, ARTHUR (1691-1768)
• EARL OF ONSLOW

ONSLOW  , a title borne by an English family claiming descent from Roger, lord of Ondeslowe in the liberty of Shrewsbury in the 13th century . Richard Onslow (1528-1571), solicitor-general and then Speaker of the House of Commons in the reign of Elizabeth, was grandfather of Sir Richard Onslow (1601-1664), who inherited the family estate on the death of his brother, Sir Thomas Onslow, in 1616 . Sir Richard was a member of the Long Parliament, and during the great Rebellion was a colonel in the parliamentary army . He was a member of Cromwell's parliament in 1654 and again in 1656, and was also a member of his House of Lords . His son, Sir Arthur Onslow (1621-1688), succeeded in 1687 by special remainder to the baronetcy of his father-in-law, Sir Thomas Foot, lord mayor of London . Sir Arthur's son, Sir Richard (1654-1717), was Speaker of the House of Commons from 1708 to 1710, and chancellor of the exchequer in 1715 . In 1716 he was created Baron Onslow of Onslow and of Clandon . He was uncle of Arthur Onslow, the famous Speaker (see below), whose only son George became 4th Baron Onslow on the death of his kinsman Richard in October 1776 . The 4th baron (1731-1814) had entered parliament in 1754, and was very active in the House of Commons; and in May 1776, just before he succeeded to the family barony, he was created Baron Cranley of Imbercourt . He was comptroller and then treasurer of the royal household, and was present at the marriage of the prince of Wales, afterwards George IV., with Mrs Fitzherbert in 1785 . In 18o1 he was created Viscount Cranley and earl of Onslow, and he died at his Surrey residence, Clandon Park, on the 17th of May 1814 . The second earl was his eldest son Thomas (1754-1827), whose son Arthur George (1777-1870), the 3rd earl, died without surviving male issue in October 187o .

He was succeeded by his

grand-nephew, William Hillier, 4th earl of Onslow (b . 1853), who was governor of New Zealand from 1888 to 1892; under-secretary for India from 1895 to 19oo; and under-secretary for the Colonies from 1900 to 1903 . From 1903 to 1905 he was a member of the Conservative cabinet as president of the board of agriculture .