Background
Born the son of Sir Henry Ponsonby and educated at Eton College, Ponsonby was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1888.
Born the son of Sir Henry Ponsonby and educated at Eton College, Ponsonby was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1888.
In 1768, he stood also for Gowran and Newtownards, and in 1776 for Carlow Borough, but chose each time Kilkenny County, which he represented until 1783.
He served in Uganda in 1898 and was seconded for service in the Second Boer War in South Africa in February 1902. He fought in World War I as Commander of the 2nd Guards Brigade from 1915 and then as General Officer Commanding 40th Division from 1917, leading his Division at the Battle of Cambrai. In July 1918 he went on to become General Officer Commanding 5th Division remaining in that role until the end of the War.
After the War he became General Officer Commanding the Madras District of India.
He retired in 1928. He lived at Haile Hall near Beckermet in Cumbria.
He also served as First Commissioner of the Revenue and he became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland in 1746.