Sir Richard Onslow (1601 – 19 May 1664) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1628 and 1664.
[4] Richard matriculated as a Fellow-Commoner at Jesus College, Cambridge in 1617, and was admitted at Lincoln's Inn in 1618.
In 1630 his mother Elizabeth died leaving him all her freehold land and the residue of her estate, and giving a silver chafing-dish to Richard's wife.
In 1642, the lodge in Clandon Park, West Clandon, and the Park itself, formerly enclosed but since disemparked, was sold to him by Sir Richard Weston and was now re-emparked: he purchased Temple House at Merrow, with the advowson of Merrow church, but not the Temple manor.
[8] When the Civil War broke out in 1642, he commanded the Surrey Trained Bands at the start of hostilities, then raised a regiment for Parliament, leading his men at the siege of Basing House in 1644.
He returned to the Commons in April 1660 as MP for Guildford in the Convention Parliament, where he worked closely with his more influential friend Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper to bring about the Restoration of the Monarchy.
[9] He was elected one of the original Bailiffs to the board of the Bedford Level Corporation in 1663, a position he held briefly until his death.
The Victoria County History blazons for Onslow: Argent a fesse gules between 6 Cornish choughs.
[8] A portrait of Sir Richard Onslow, painted in the style of Robert Walker, was held by the National Trust at Clandon Park.