Richard William Alan Onslow, was born on 23rd August 1876 and became a British peer, diplomat, parliamentary secretary and government minister.

The son of the 4th Earl of Onslow, Richard was educated at Eton and New College, Oxford before joining the Diplomatic Service in 1901.

Richard succeeded to his father's title in 1911. He joined the army on the outbreak of World War I in 1914 and was mentioned in despatches three times. After the war, he was a Lord-in-Waiting from 1919-20, a Civil Lord of the Admiralty from 1920-21, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture in 1921, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health from 1921-23, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education from 1923-24, Under-Secretary of State for War and Vice-President of the Army Council from 1924-28 and Chairman of the Committees and Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords from 1931-44.

On 22 February 1906, Richard married Violet Marcia Catherine Warwick Bampfylde, daughter of the 3rd Baron Paltimore and they later had two children.