A Portrait of Influence: Life and Letters of Arthur Onslow, the Great Speaker

Arthur Onslow was the Speaker of the House of Commons for an unsurpassed 33 years, from 1728 to 1761. He served during the entire reign of George II, and brought about significant changes to the role of Speaker. A man of integrity and principle, Onslow was a highly respected member of both London and Surrey society. But he left no significant archive, so today his name is little known.

His surviving letters, collected here for the first time, portray a man with great influence in many aspects of 18th century life. They illustrate his work as a JP and as an MP, but also his philosophical, literary and antiquarian interests, and his pivotal role in the formation of the British Museum. The letters show his friendship with one of the leading politician of his time, the Duke of Newcastle, and his influence on the political stability of the 1740s and 50s.