Arthur Onslow
From Dittopedia
Arthur Onslow (1st October 1691, Chelsea – 17th February 1768) was an English politician. He was the elder son of Foot Onslow (d. 1710). [1]
Educated at Winchester School and at Wadham College, Oxford, he became a barrister, rising to Recorder of Guildford, and in 1720 entered Parliament as a member for the borough of Guildford. Seven years later he became one of the members for Surrey with the highest majority ever recorded, and he retained this seat until 1761. In 1728 he was elected Speaker of the House of Commons, being the third member of his family to hold this office; he was also chancellor to George II's queen, Caroline, and from 1734 to 1742 he was Treasurer of the Navy. [1]
He retired from the position of Speaker and from parliament in 1761, whereupon he was granted the Freedom of the City of London. As Speaker, Onslow was a conspicuous success, displaying knowledge, tact and firmness in his office; in his leisure hours he was a collector of books. He was exceptional for his reputation for impartiality and integrity, at a time when corruption among politicians was rife. He was also the longest-serving speaker in the history of Westminster having held the position for thirty-three years. He was fantastically well-off at his retirement, having been granted an annuity of £3,000 by the King for the lives of himself and his son George. [1]
Speaker Onslow's nephew, George Onslow (1731-1792), a son of his brother Richard, was a lieutenant-colonel and member of parliament for Guildford from 1760 to 1784. He had a younger brother Richard (1741-1817), who entered the navy and was made an admiral in 1799. [1]
One of his descendants, Cranley Onslow, was a Member of Parliament in the late 20th Century. [1]
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Arthur Onslow in Thames Ditton
Onslow gained much by his marriage to Ann, niece of Henry Bridges. His father-in-law died in the mid-20s, and Onslow came into the entire estate, which had increased through the addition of the holding of Ann's sister, who had recently died. Onslow made Imber Court in Thames Ditton his principal seat. Early in his career, Onslow became High Steward of Kingston upon Thames. When he died in 1768 at the age of 76, he was buried at St Nicholas Church, Thames Ditton. But subsequently his body, and that of his wife Ann, were moved to the Onslow burial site at Merrow Church, near Clandon. [2]
Documents relating to Onslow
Letter from Arthur Onslow, 22 August 1764
Gentlemen [3]
Having by my letter of the 23rd November 1762 represented to the Honble Board, the iniquitous practices carried to, and from the Isle of Man, and how practicable it was to put the 7th G: 1st into execution : I received their order of the 11th of December following to get if possible visible positive proof of the landing tea or any other East India goods at the Isle of Man from foreign parts, and persuant to the said order, I sent over the 21st of December 1762, to the said Island, discreet persons with proper instructions and furnished with money, who, staid there till the 20th August following, during which stay their arrived seven vessels laden with tea &c from foreign parts but only three of them arrived at this port which were immediately seized.
It was not incumbent on me, to keep witnesses at the Isle of Man constantly, and indeed as the expence was very great it was not very convenient, but notwithstanding I had no particular directions from the Honble Board nor the fate of the three vessels seized determined ; I did out of zeal for the service early in spring, send over judicious people to the Isle of Man furnished with money and instructions to observe and attend the discharge of all foreign vessels and in consequence of their informations, I had the Honble Board's order of the 8th of May last, to seize a Swede and a Rotterdamer, but neither of the said vessels did arrive in this; or the adjacent ports.
Unfortunately the Lady Catherine, Jacob Boagrett from Rotterdam, chiefly laden with tea, arrived at Douglas in the Isle of Man and discharged her said cargo somedays before my witness got there and the said vessel afterwards came here in ballast, and upon my interrogating the mariners who did not suspect me, they told me they had landed tea at the Isle of Man but such a declaration would not be sufficient to support a seizure ; as the Honble Board is pleased to observe to me in their letter of the 3d of May 1763 with respect to the Friendship who discharged tea at the Isle of Man from foreign parts, " that as the witnesses who saw the chests landed, could not prove the contents ; but by the declaration of the mariners, it would not be sufficient to support seizure;" The Lady Catherine in all probability may be coming from Rotterdam to the Isle of Man, and if I can procure positive proof of her landing any East India goods there I will seize her ; and if Messrs Hopes or any other persons, will procure me evidence of the xxxxxxx transactions of her former voyage; I will give them a handsome reward.
I have laid before the Hoble Board what I purpose doing relative to the Isle of Man, and if I get an encouraging answer I will again at my own expence, without craving the least assistance send over proper persons to the Isle of Man, to observe their transactions. I am
- Gentlemen
- with the utmost respect
- Your oblidged & obedient humble servant
- Arthur Onslow
- Custom He Leverpoole
- 22 August 1764
References
- 1. Wikipedia
- 2. Burchett, P. 1984. A Historical Sketch of THAMES DITTON. Surrey: Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents' Association. ISBN 0-904-81120-4.
- 3. Athol Papers
Calendar 16/17-Nov
Categories: 1691 | 1768 | Oct-1 | Feb-17
