Earl of Bessborough

Earl of Bessborough is a British hereditary title of nobility, which was awarded in the Peerage of Ireland. It is run by a branch of the Ponsonby family.

The family seat is at Stanstead House Rowlands Castle in Hampshire.

Award

The title was, 2nd Viscount Duncannon awarded in 1739 to Brabazon Ponsonby. This was a well-known politician in the first half of the 18th century in Great Britain and Ireland.

Subordinate title

The father of the first Earl William Ponsonby, also a prominent Irish politician, had been in 1721 for Baron Bessborough, of Bessborough, Piltown in the County of Kilkenny, and in 1723 created Viscount Duncannon, of the fort of Duncannon in the County of Wexford, collected. Both titles, which also belong to the peerage of Ireland, are today a subordinate title.

The first Earl was awarded in 1749 the dignity of a Baron Ponsonby of Sysonby, in the County of Leicester, in the Peerage of Great Britain, awarded. Even this title, which was connected to an automatic seat in the House of Lords, is still run by the respective Earl.

1834 was the later fourth Earl interior minister in the government of Melbourne. At the same time he was raised to Baron Duncannon of Bessborough in County Kilkenny, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since 1844, when he inherited when his father's earldom of death, even the title is out as subordinate dignity.

The heir takes the courtesy title Viscount Duncannon.

Another title

The ninth Earl was 1931-1935 Governor General of Canada. Two years later he was elevated to Earl of Bessborough in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. This dignity became extinct, when in 1993, the tenth Earl died without a male descendant.

List of Viscount Duncannon and Earl of Bessborough

Viscount Duncannon (1723 )

  • William Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Duncannon ( 1659-1724 )
  • Brabazon Ponsonby, 2nd Viscount Duncannon ( 1679-1758 ) ( 1739 elevated to Earl of Bessborough )

Earl of Bessborough ( 1739 )

  • Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough ( 1679-1758 )
  • William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough († 1793)
  • Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough ( 1758-1844 )
  • John William Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough ( 1781-1847 )
  • John George Brabazon Ponsonby, 5th Earl of Bessborough ( 1809-1880 )
  • Frederick George Brabazon Ponsonby, 6th Earl of Bessborough ( 1815-1895 )
  • Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby, 7th Earl of Bessborough ( 1821-1906 )
  • Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough ( 1851-1920 )
  • Vere Brabazon Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough ( 1880-1956 )
  • Frederick Edward Neuflize Ponsonby, 10th Earl of Bessborough ( 1913-1993 )
  • Arthur Mountifort Longfield Ponsonby, 11th Earl of Bessborough ( 1912-2002 )
  • Myles Fitzhugh Longfield Ponsonby, 12th Earl of Bessborough ( b. 1941 )

The heir apparent is the son of the present Earl, Frederick Arthur William Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon (* 1974).

County Wexford Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough
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