Bessborough Memorials in Derby Cathedral, England

Of the many memorials to the Bessborough family in the mortuary chapel at Fiddown you will not find one to William Ponsonby, the 2nd  Earl of Bessborough, nor his wife Caroline   William who was born in 1704, was the son of Brabazon (created the first Earl of Bessborough in 1739 and a peer of Great Britain).  William according to his memorial in Derby was born in 1704 and married in 1739 Caroline, the eldest daughter of William the 3rd Duke of Devonshire.  At the time of the marriage the Duke of Devonshire was the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1737-1745).  In 1741 the Duke offered William,  and William accepted,  a position as Chief Secretary.  His new father-in-law also recommended him for a place on the Irish Privy Council.  The Duke of Devonshire, or Cavendish family,  are one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England; this was an extremely advantageous marriage.  The Duke of Devonshire still owns vast estates; notably in Ireland Lismore Castle, in county Waterford.  In England the Duke of Devonshire owns Chatsworth House and estates in Derbyshire.   It is therefore entirely within reason that William, the 2nd Earl of Bessborough and his wife should have memorials in All Saints Church, Derby, also known as Derby Cathedral,  and situated in the county town of Derbyshire.  The Cavendish family vault is below the south isle; this was originally made for use by the famous Bess of Hardwick, more properly called Elizabeth Talbot,  Countess Shrewsbury who died in 1608 . Her second husband was Sir William Cavendish who then adopted it as the Cavendish burial place.  This tradition ended in 1858 after which date the Cavendish family were buried at Edensor, near Chatsworth in Derbyshire. 
William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough  had an active political life as he was MP for Newtownards, county Down 1725-1727, MP for Kilkenny 1727-58, MP for the Town of Derby, England, 1742-54,  MP for Saltash, England, 1754-56 and MP for Harwich, England,  1756-58.  He had to vacate these seats in parliament when he succeeded his father to the title of Earl of Bessborough in 1758. William was also an active Freemason. He is specifically mentioned in The Dublin Weekly Journal for 13th March 1730/31 as the Master of "a lodge of Free-Masons held at the Yellow Lyon in Warborough Street on 6th March 1731". See www.irishmasonichistory.com

The memorial to the 2nd Earl of Bessborough in Derby Cathedral. 

This Memorial was created by Joseph Nollekens, one of the most famous and most fashionable portrait sculptors of the time. Nollekens was born in London in 1737, the son of a Flemish painter Josef Frans Nollekens.   The inscription reads " In memory of William Ponsonby, Earl of Bessborough,  A Peer and Privy Counsellor of Great Britain and Ireland.  He was born in 1704 and died in 1793.  He was beloved and respected by all. In Liberality and Charity he was surpassed by none.  In 1739 he married Caroline, Daughter of Wm 3rd Duke of Devonshire, By whom he had Catherine married to Auby, Duke of St Albans, Charlotte married to Wm Earl Fitzwilliam and Frederick who succeeded Him". 
According to Burke's Peerage 1893, Catherine married Aubrey 5th Duke of St Albans; she died in 1789.  Charlotte married the William, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam; she died in 1822.  The above William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough died 11th March 1793.  Frederick, his successor, married in 1780 Lady Henrietta Frances Spencer, the 2nd daughter of John, 1st Earl Spencer.

The memorial to Caroline, Countess of Bessborough in Derby Cathedral.

This magnificent memorial to Caroline, Countess of Bessborough was created by Michael Rysbrack. Rysbrack or Rijsbrack, a Flemish sculptor,  was born in Antwerp in 1694.  He arrived in London in 1720 where he rapidly established himself as the leading sculptor, a position he was to hold until the mid 1740s.   After that he remained one of the top three sculptors in Britain until shortly before his death in 1770.  The above figure of Caroline is most beautifully carved.

The inscriptions reads "To the Memory of CAROLINE, Countess of Bessborough in Ireland and Baroness Ponsonby in England.  She was the eldest Daughter of WILLIAM CAVENDISH, third Duke of Devonshire. She married at Chatsworth WILLIAM PONSONBY, eldest son of BRABAZON late Earl of Bessborough by whom she had eleven Children. Viz  Five sons and Six Daughters. Only three of them (whom God preserve) are now living. CATHERINE married to AUBREY BEAUCLERK only son of VERE, Lord Vere Baron of Hanworth in the County of Middlesex. CHARLOTTE married to WILLIAM Earl Fitzwilliam of Milton in the county of Northampton and FREDERICK commonly called Lord Viscount Duncannon. She died on Sunday the twentieth of January 1760 in the forty first Year of her Age. This Monument is only to be considered as an Endeavour to preserve the Memory of a departed Friend and as an Instance of true Affection and Tribute paid by her much afflicted Husband WILLIAM Earl of Bessborough".

The Coat of Arms on the Memorial to the William, 2nd Earl of Bessborough showing his Earl's coronet.

The inscription on the garland reads  "Pro Rege, Lege. Grege" which means "For the King, the Law and the People"

For other Bessborough Memorials in Ireland see our post Fiddown Church, Parish of Fiddown, posted on 7/10/2017.