Family and Education

b. c.1698, s. of Richard Onslow of Drungewick, Suss. by Sarah, da. of Thomas Calvert, M.P., and gt. gd. s. of Sir Richard Onslow, M.P. m. cos. Anne, da. and coh. of Thomas Middleton, M.P., of Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex by Anne, da. of Sir Richard Onslow, 3rd Bt., 2s. suc. fa. 1712.

Offices Held

Receiver gen. of the Post Office 1727-40; paymaster of the board of Works 1743-55; commr. of stamp duties 1755-7; commr. of the salt office 1757-65.

Biography

Denzil Onslow succeeded his cousin Richard Onslow at the Post Office, which he in turn had to resign as incompatible with a seat in the House of Commons when he was returned on his family’s interest for Guildford in 1740. Voting with the Administration in every recorded division, he spoke for the Hanoverians on 18 Jan. 1744.1 He resigned his seat in 1747 in preference to giving up his place at the board of Works, which had become incompatible with a seat in the House under the Place Act of 1742. In 1748 he was called upon to explain why there were errors in his Post Office accounts, and in 1764 the Treasury inquired why there had been no proceedings taken on his arrears as paymaster of the board of Works. On his death, 15 Nov. 1765, he owed the sum of £1,648 16s. 7d., which was still outstanding in 1783.2

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

• 1. Yorke’s parl. jnl. Parl. Hist. xiii. 463.
• 2. Treasury minute bks. T29/31, f. 88, 29/36, f. 69, 29/53, f. 255.