Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend (11 July 1700 – 12 March 1764), known asThe Lord Lynn from 1723 to 1738, was aBritish politician who sat in theHouse of Commons from 1722 to 1723 when he waselevated to the House of Lords by writ of acceleration.
Townshend was the eldest son of theCharles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend and his first wife Elizabeth Pelham, daughter ofThomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham, MP. He was educated atEton and was admitted atKing's College, Cambridge in 1718.[1] He then undertook aGrand Tour.[2]
Townsend entered theCommons when he succeeded his uncle asMember of Parliament (MP) forGreat Yarmouth at the 1722 general election. He held the seat until a year later, when he was summoned to theHouse of Lords through awrit of acceleration in his father'sbarony of Townshend. As his father was already Lord Townshend, Charles was styled Lord Lynn after the barony'sterritorial designation ofLynn Regis. Townshend then becameLord of the bedchamber in 1723 until 1727. In 1730 he was appointedMaster of the Jewel Office to 1738. Also in 1730 he was appointedLord Lieutenant of Norfolk andCustos Rotulorum of Norfolk. He succeeded to his father's titles and estates in 1738.[2]
His Lordship erected and endowed at Raynham acharity school for clothing and educating thirty boys and twenty girls; the latter to be brought up in spinning. [4]
On 29 May 1723, Townshend marriedAudrey (Etheldreda) Harrison, the only daughter and heiress ofEdward Harrison ofBalls Park,Hertfordshire).[2] They separated formally around 1740.[3] Townsend died on 12 March 1764. His surviving children wereGeorge, laterMarquess Townshend (1724–1807),Charles (1725–1767), and Audrey (died 1781) married toRobert Orme (soldier).
4.Townsend--Townshend, 1066-1909: the history, genealogy and alliances of the English and American house of Townsend by Margaret Tagliapietrae (Townsend) Publishdate 1909
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas Rowley | Master of the Jewel Office 1730 – 1736 | Succeeded by Henry Heny |
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forGreat Yarmouth 1722 – 1723 With:Horatio Walpole | Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk 1730 – 1738 | Succeeded by |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by | Viscount Townshend 1738 – 1764 | Succeeded by |
| Baron Townshend (writ in acceleration) 1723 – 1764 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
