About Denzil Roberts Onslow
Lived 1839 – 1908 (aged 68). Denzil Roberts Onslow was a British cricketer and politician.
Denzil Roberts Onslow (15 June 1839 – 21 March 1908) was an English Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1885. He played first-class cricket for Cambridge University from 1859 to 1861, Sussex from 1860 to 1869 and for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) from 1861 to 1873.
Onslow was born at Chittore, Madras, India, the second son of Thomas Onslow of the Madras Civil Service and his wife Elizabeth Sarah Roberts, daughter of Charles Roberts of Madras. He was the grandson of Denzil Onslow who was also a cricketer. He was educated at Brighton College where he played cricket in the first team between 1855 and 1858 and started playing for Gentlemen of Sussex. In 1858, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge. Onslow played cricket for Cambridge University in 1859 and took part in the Varsity matches in 1860 and 1861. He made his debut for Sussex in 1860 and played for MCC against Middlesex in 1861.
In 1862 Onslow accompanied Sir Charles Trevelyan to India as private secretary when Trevelyan became Indian Finance Minister. Onslow remained with his successor William Nathaniel Massey who was in post from 1865 to 1868. Onslow then became secretary to his successor Sir Richard Temple. Onslow returned from India in 1869 In 1879 he played cricket for the House of Commons as well as one game for MCC. but when the narrow-area parliamentary borough of Guildford was abolished in 1885 in favour of a county division of the same name, St John Brodrick won the nomination and he stood instead in the Poplar division of Tower Hamlets, where Henry Green (Lib) defeated him by a margin of almost two-to-one.
Onslow married Clara Louisa Scott, daughter of James Scott of Tunbridge Wells on 2 August 1871. In the England Wales 1881 Census, Denzil Onslow is listed as the Head of the household with the family living in Wanborough, Surrey. By the 1891 Census, Clara Onslow is listed as the Head of the household, living with her two daughters in Edmonton and in the 1901 Census, in Hackney, London. Denzil Onslow is listed in the 1901 Census as being a boarder in St James, Westminster. Geraldine Onslow married Rev'd William McNeill Carleton and went as missionaries to South Africa before the 1901 Census took place. Onslow's grandson, Denzil Onslow-Carleton, flew in the Royal Flying Corp during World War I and later went on to play rugby for Natal.
Onslow died at Westminster at the age of 68.
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Important facts
People in Denzil Roberts Onslow's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Denzil Roberts Onslow?
British politician (1839-1908)
When was Denzil Roberts Onslow born?
Denzil Roberts Onslow was born on 15 June 1839.
When did Denzil Roberts Onslow die?
Denzil Roberts Onslow died on 21 March 1908.
What was Denzil Roberts Onslow's occupation?
Denzil Roberts Onslow was a cricketer and politician.
What nationality was Denzil Roberts Onslow?
Denzil Roberts Onslow was British.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Denzil Roberts Onslow
· DBpedia: Denzil Onslow (Conservative politician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Denzil Roberts Onslow. https://biography.guide/denzil-roberts-onslow/
MLA: "Denzil Roberts Onslow." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/denzil-roberts-onslow/.
Chicago: "Denzil Roberts Onslow." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/denzil-roberts-onslow/.
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