Biography of William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough 1704-1793

Before 1704 [his father] Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 24) and [his mother] Sarah Margetson (age 25) were married. They were second cousins.

In 1704 William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough was born to Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 25) and Sarah Margetson (age 25).

In May 1733 [his mother] Sarah Margetson (age 55) died.

On 5th July 1739 William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 35) and Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 20) were married. His younger brother John Ponsonby (age 26) would marry her younger sister Elizabeth Cavendish (age 13) four years later. She the daughter of William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire (age 40) and Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire (age 40). He the son of Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 60) and Sarah Margetson.

On 14th October 1742 [his daughter] Catherine Ponsonby Duchess St Albans was born to William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 38) and [his wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 23).

In 1743 [his brother] John Ponsonby (age 29) and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Cavendish (age 17) were married. His elder brother William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 39) had married her elder sister [his wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 23) four years before. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire (age 44) and [his mother-in-law] Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire (age 44). He the son of [his father] Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 64) and [his mother] Sarah Margetson.

Around 1745. Attributed to Jeremiah Davison (age 50). Portrait of William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 41).

In 1747 Bishop Richard Terrick (age 37) was elected Bishop of Peterborough through the influence of [his brother-in-law] William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire (age 26) the Prime Minister.

Before 1748 [his brother-in-law] William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire (age 27) and Charlotte Elizabeth Boyle Marchioness Hartington (age 16) were married. She the daughter of Richard Boyle 3rd Earl Burlington (age 53) and Dorothy Savile Countess Burlington (age 48). He the son of [his father-in-law] William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire (age 49) and [his mother-in-law] Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire (age 49). They were fourth cousin once removed.

On 5th December 1755 [his father-in-law] William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire (age 57) died. His son [his brother-in-law] William (age 35) succeeded 4th Duke Devonshire, 7th Earl Devonshire, 7th Baron Cavendish Hardwick.

On 24th January 1758 [his son] Frederick Ponsonby 3rd Earl Bessborough was born to William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 54) and [his wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 38).

On 4th July 1758 [his father] Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 79) died. His son William (age 54) succeeded 2nd Earl Bessborough, 3rd Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 3rd Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny. [his wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 39) by marriage Countess Bessborough.

On 20th January 1760 [his wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 40) died. Monument in Derby Cathedral [Map] sculpted by John Michael Rysbrack (age 65).

Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough: In May 1719 she was born to William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire and Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire. On 5th July 1739 William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough and she were married. His younger brother John Ponsonby would marry her younger sister Elizabeth Cavendish four years later. She the daughter of William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire and Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire. He the son of Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough and Sarah Margetson. In 1743 John Ponsonby and Elizabeth Cavendish were married. His elder brother William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough had married her elder sister Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough four years before. She the daughter of William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire and Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire. He the son of Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough and Sarah Margetson. On 4th July 1758 Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough died. His son William succeeded 2nd Earl Bessborough, 3rd Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 3rd Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny. She by marriage Countess Bessborough.

On 4th May 1763 [his son-in-law] Aubrey Beauclerk 5th Duke St Albans (age 22) and [his daughter] Catherine Ponsonby Duchess St Albans (age 20) were married. She the daughter of William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 59) and [his former wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough.

In 1770 [his son-in-law] William Fitzwilliam 4th and 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam (age 21) and [his daughter] Charlotte Ponsonby Countess Fitzwilliam were married. She the daughter of William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 66) and [his former wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough. He the son of William Fitzwilliam 1st and 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam and Anne Watson Wentworth Countess Fitzwilliam.

On 27th November 1780 [his son] Frederick Ponsonby 3rd Earl Bessborough (age 22) and [his daughter-in-law] Henrietta Frances Spencer Countess Bessborough (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess Bessborough. She the daughter of John Spencer 1st Earl Spencer (age 45) and Margaret Georgiana Poyntz Countess Spencer (age 43). He the son of William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 76) and [his former wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough. They were fifth cousins.

On 4th September 1789 [his daughter] Catherine Ponsonby Duchess St Albans (age 46) died.

On 11th March 1793 William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 89) died. His son [his son] Frederick (age 35) succeeded 3rd Earl Bessborough, 4th Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 4th Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny.

[his daughter] Charlotte Ponsonby Countess Fitzwilliam was born to William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough and Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough.