George Ponsonby

The Hon. George Ponsonby (1773 – 5 June 1863), was an Irish politician, who served as a Junior Lord of the Treasury in the governments under Earl Grey (his brother-in-law) and Lord Melbourne from 1832 to 1834.

Early life He was the fourth of five sons and one daughter born to William Brabazon Ponsonby by his wife, Hon. Louisa Molesworth. Among his siblings were the diplomat John Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Ponsonby, Hon. Sir William Ponsonby, a major-general in the army who was killed at the Battle of Waterloo, Richard Ponsonby, who became Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora, Derry, and Derry and Raphoe, and Mary Ponsonby, who married the Prime Minister, Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey.

His mother was the fourth daughter of Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth, and the former Mary Jenney Ussher (daughter of the Rev. William Ussher, Archdeacon of Clonfert). His paternal grandparents were the Hon. John Ponsonby, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons (and second son of Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough) and the former Lady Elizabeth Cavendish (a daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire). His aunt, Frances Ponsonby, was the wife of Cornelius O'Callaghan, 1st Baron Lismore.

Ponsonby graduated from Trinity College Dublin on 7 March 1791 at age 18.

Personal life On 7 April 1807, Ponsonby was married to Sarah Gledstanes (d. 1808), a daughter of John Jacob Gledstanes of Annesgift. Before her death on 18 July 1808, they were the parents of one son, who predeceased him. Diana and George lived at Woolbeding House in Sussex, and were the parents of one son, and one daughter:

Ponsonby died on 5 June 1863.