Thomas Onslow, 2nd Baron Onslow facts for kids
Thomas Onslow, 2nd Baron Onslow (born November 27, 1679 – died June 5, 1740), lived in West Clandon, Surrey, England. He was an important landowner and a Whig politician. He served in the English and British House of Commons from 1702 to 1717. Thomas Onslow also started the building of the famous Clandon Park House in the 1730s.
Early Life and Family
Thomas Onslow was the only son of Richard Onslow, 1st Baron Onslow. He went to Eton College, a well-known school, from 1691 to 1693. After school, he traveled to Holland and France between 1697 and 1698. He married Elizabeth Knight. Elizabeth was the daughter of John Knight, a merchant from Jamaica. She was also the niece of Colonel Charles Knight. Thomas and Elizabeth inherited money from both sides of her family.
Political Journey
Thomas Onslow was a Member of Parliament (MP) for many years. He represented different areas in England and Great Britain. He first became an MP in 1702 when he was 22 or 23 years old. His first area was Gatton, Surrey. This was a small, quiet area.
Later, in 1705, he represented Chichester, which is a larger town in West Sussex. From 1708 to 1715, he was the MP for Bletchingley. Finally, from 1715 to 1717, he represented the county of Surrey. At that time, Surrey included parts of what is now Greater London south of the Thames River, like Battersea and Lambeth.
In 1717, he received a special law degree (LL.D) from Cambridge University. That same year, his father passed away, and Thomas became the 2nd Baron Onslow. From 1718 until his death, he worked as a Teller of the Receipt of the Exchequer. This was an important job in the government that involved managing money.
Clandon Park House
The Onslow family home is Clandon Park, located in East and West Clandon, Surrey. Thomas Onslow played a big part in changing Clandon Park House from a large country home into a grand mansion. He also helped design its beautiful 7-acre garden.
In 1956, Clandon Park House and its gardens were given to the National Trust. This means it is now protected for everyone to enjoy. Sadly, a fire in 2015 badly damaged the inside of the house.
The Onslow family still owns and manages their farming business and the parkland around Clandon Park today. In the 1700s and 1800s, the family owned thousands of acres of farmland across many villages in Surrey. This land provided them with a lot of money.
Research suggests that Clandon House might have been built using money from Elizabeth Knight's family. Her uncle, Charles Knight, owned a slave plantation in Jamaica called Whitehall Plantation.
Family Life
Thomas Onslow had one son named Richard. Richard took over as the 3rd Baron Onslow when his father, Thomas, passed away in 1740.
Images for kids
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Clandon Park House was transformed from a large manor house to a lavish English country house by this Lord Onslow. It featured a two-storey Marble Hall and marble chimney and other pieces by the Flemish sculptor Michael Rysbrack.
