George Ponsonby

Who was George Ponsonby?

George Ponsonby, styled The Honourable from 1806, was an Irish politician, who served as a Junior Lord of the Treasury in the governments under Earl Grey and Lord Melbourne from 1832 to 1834.

He was the fourth son of William Brabazon Ponsonby and Louisa daughter of Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth. Ponsonby represented Lismore in the Irish House of Commons between 1796 and 1798. He was then elected as a Member of Parliament at a by-election for Kilkenny County in 1806 on his father, previously the sitting member, being elevated to the peerage as 1st Baron Ponsonby of Imokilly, but a general election quickly followed when he was replaced in this seat by his younger brother Hon. Frederick Ponsonby.

He subsequently served as for Cork County from 1806 to 1812; for Youghal in County Cork from 1826 to 1832; and was evidently also a member of the following Parliament.

He lived at Woodbeding in Sussex. He married twice, having two sons and a daughter.