Family and Education

b. 6 Feb. 1780, 3rd s. of Thomas Townshend^†, 1st Visct. Sydney, by Elizabeth, da. and coh. of Richard Powys^† of Hintlesham, Suff.; bro. of Hon. John Thomas Townshend* and Hon. William Augustus Townshend*. educ. Eton 1787-91. unm. Kntd. (and KCH) 25 Sept. 1835.

Offices Held

Ensign, 1 Ft. Gds. 1795, lt. and capt. 1799; capt. and lt.-col. 1809, brevet col. 1819; lt.-col. 1 Ft Gds. 1821; lt.-gov. Windsor Castle at d.

Biography

Townshend served in the Peninsula and in 1815 was severely wounded at Quatre Bras. A year later he succeeded his elder brother as Member for Whitchurch on the family interest. Like him he opposed Catholic relief, 9 May 1817, and supported the Liverpool administration, his surviving votes being on the composition of the finance committee, 7 Feb.; on the Admiralty salaries, 17 Feb.; for the suspension of habeas corpus, 23 June 1817; for the ducal marriage grant, 15 Apr. 1818; against Tierney’s censure motion, 18 May 1819, and for legislation against the radicals, 23 Dec. 1819. He is known to have spoken only once in the House before 1820, in defence of the disciplining of a private in his regiment after he had attended the Worcester election committee, 26 Mar. 1819. He died 25 May 1843.

Gent. Mag. (1843), ii. 202.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Brian Murphy

Notes