Robert Henley-Ongley, 1st Baron Ongley facts for kids
Robert Henley-Ongley, the 1st Baron Ongley (born around 1721 – died October 23, 1785), was an important British politician. He was known for his work in the British Parliament and for becoming a Baron.
Early Life and Education
Robert Henley-Ongley was born as Robert Henley. His father was also named Robert Henley and lived in London. Robert Henley-Ongley later added "Ongley" to his name. He did this because he inherited land and property from his great-uncle, Sir Samuel Ongley. Sir Samuel Ongley lived at Old Warden in Bedfordshire.
Young Robert went to Christ Church, Oxford for his education. After that, he studied law at the Middle Temple. This prepared him for a career in public service.
Becoming a Politician
In 1754, Robert Henley-Ongley was elected to the British Parliament. He represented the town of Bedford. He held this position until 1761.
After that, he became a Knight of the Shire for Bedfordshire. A Knight of the Shire was a Member of Parliament who represented a county. He served in this role from 1761 to 1780. He was elected again from 1784 until his death in 1785.
Becoming a Baron
In 1776, Robert Henley-Ongley received a special honor. He was made a Baron in the Irish peerage. This meant he became Baron Ongley, of Old Warden.
Being an Irish Baron was different from being a British Baron. It allowed him to keep his seat in the House of Commons. This meant he could continue to serve as a Member of Parliament while also holding his new title.
Family and Legacy
In 1763, Lord Ongley married Frances Gosfright. She was the daughter of Richard Gosfright from Langton Hall in Essex. They had a large family together. They had two sons and four daughters.
Lord Ongley passed away in October 1785. He was buried in a special building called a mausoleum. This mausoleum is in the churchyard of St Leonard's church in Old Warden, Bedfordshire. His wife had the mausoleum built in 1787, just as he had wanted. His oldest son, also named Robert, took over his title as Baron.
