Marquess Townshend is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain held by the Townshend family of

Raynham Hall Raynham Hall is a country house in Norfolk, England. For nearly 400 years it has been the seat of the Townshend family. The hall gave its name to the five estate villages, known as The Raynhams, and is reported to be haunted, providing the scen ...

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...

. The title was created in 1787 for

George Townshend, 4th Viscount Townshend Field Marshal George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, PC (28 February 172414 September 1807), known as The Viscount Townshend from 1764 to 1787, was a British soldier and politician. After serving at the Battle of Dettingen during the War of t ...

History

The Townshend family descends from Roger Townshend, who in 1617 was created a

baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14t ...

, of Raynham in the County of Norfolk, in the Baronetage of England. He later represented Orford and

in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...

. His younger son, the third Baronet (who succeeded his elder brother), played an important role in the restoration of the monarchy after the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

and was also

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...

for Norfolk. In 1661 he was created Baron Townshend, of Lynn Regis in the County of Norfolk, and in 1682 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Townshend, of Raynham in the County of Norfolk. Both titles were in the Peerage of England. He was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount. He was a prominent statesman and served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department from 1714 to 1716 and from 1721 to 1730. Lord Townshend is also remembered for the agricultural reforms he undertook at his Norfolk estate and gained the nickname "Turnip Townshend". His eldest son, the third Viscount, briefly represented Great Yarmouth in the House of Commons. However, in 1723, during his father's lifetime, he was summoned to the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...

through a

writ of acceleration A writ in acceleration, commonly called a writ of acceleration, is a type of writ of summons that enabled the eldest son and heir apparent of a peer with more than one peerage to attend the British or Irish House of Lords, using one of his father ...

in his father's junior title of Baron Townshend (although he was styled "Lord Lynn", taken from the territorial designation of the barony, to distinguish him from his father). Lord Townshend later served as

Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk This is an incomplete list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk. Since 1689, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Norfolk. * William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, 1549 – *Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Su ...

. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the fourth Viscount. He was a Field Marshal in the Army and served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and as

Master-General of the Ordnance The Master-General of the Ordnance (MGO) was a very senior British military position from 1415 to 2013 (except 1855–1895 and 1939–1958) with some changes to the name, usually held by a serving general. The Master-General of the Ordnance was ...

. In 1787 he was created Marquess Townshend in the Peerage of Great Britain. Lord Townshend married as his first wife Charlotte Compton, 16th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley and 7th Baroness Compton. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Marquess. He had already on his mother's death in 1770 succeeded in the baronies Ferrers of Chartley and Compton. In 1784, 23 years before he succeeded his father, he was created Earl of Leicester in the Peerage of Great Britain. His choice of title derived from his descent from Lady Lucy Sydney, daughter of

Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester (1 December 1595 – 2 November 1677) was an English diplomat and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1614 and 1625 and then succeeded to the peerage as Earl of Leicester. Life Sidney was born ...

(a title which had become extinct in 1743). Lord Townshend later held office as

Master of the Mint Master of the Mint is a title within the Royal Mint given to the most senior person responsible for its operation. It was an important office in the governments of Scotland and England, and later Great Britain and then the United Kingdom, between ...

, as Joint

Postmaster General A Postmaster General, in Anglosphere countries, is the chief executive officer of the postal service of that country, a ministerial office responsible for overseeing all other postmasters. The practice of having a government official responsib ...

and as

Lord Steward of the Household The Lord Steward or Lord Steward of the Household is an official of the Royal Household in England. He is always a peer. Until 1924, he was always a member of the Government. Until 1782, the office was one of considerable political importance ...

. His son, the third Marquess, was childless. On his death in 1855 the earldom of Leicester became extinct while the baronies of Ferrers of Chartley and Compton fell into abeyance. He was succeeded in the other titles by his first cousin, the fourth Marquess. He was the son of

Lord John Townshend Lord John Townshend PC (19 January 1757 – 23 February 1833), styled The Honourable John Townshend until 1787, was a British Whig politician. Background Townshend was the second son of Field Marshal George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend ...

, second son of the first Marquess. Lord Townshend was a

Rear-Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

and also sat as Member of Parliament for Tamworth. His son, the fifth Marquess, also represented Tamworth in Parliament (as a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

). the titles are held by the latter's great-grandson, the eighth Marquess, who succeeded his father in April 2010. Several other members of the Townshend family have also gained distinction. Charles Townshend, second son of the third Viscount, was a prominent statesman and orator and served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1766 to 1767. The politician

Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney (24 February 1733 – 30 June 1800) was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1754 to 1783 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Sydney. He held several important Cabinet posts in ...

, after whom the town of Sydney, Australia, was named, was the son of the Hon. Thomas Townshend, second son of the second Viscount. Sydney's grandson was the Liberal politician

John Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney John Robert Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney (9 August 1805 – 14 February 1890), known as The Viscount Sydney between 1831 and 1874, was a British Liberal politician. In a ministerial career spanning over 30 years, he was twice Lord Chamberlain of ...

Charles Townshend, 1st Baron Bayning Charles Townshend, 1st Baron Bayning PC (27 August 1728 – 19 May 1810) was a British politician. Background and education Bayning was the only son of William Townshend, third son of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend. George Townshend, ...

, was the son of the Hon. William Townshend, third son of the second Viscount. See also Roger Townshend, Admiral

George Townshend George Townshend may refer to: *George Townshend (Royal Navy officer) (1715–1769), British naval commander *George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend (1724–1807), British field marshal, his nephew *George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend (1753� ...

, Lord Charles Townshend,

, Lord Charles Townshend, Lord James Townshend,

Charles Fox Townshend Charles Fox Townshend (28 June 1795 – 1817) was the founder of the Eton Society. Townshend was the eldest son of Lord John Townshend, second son of George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend. His mother was Georgiana Anne, daughter of William Po ...

and

Major-General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend. As Lord Townshend holds no titles with names different from his main title, the territorial designation from his viscountcy is used for his heir, who is styled ''Viscount Raynham''. Between 1807 and 1855 the courtesy title was ''Earl of Leicester'' (although the title was not used from 1811 to 1855 as there was no a real

heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...

to the marquessate during this period, but earldom "usurped" by John Dunn-Gardner in 1823–1843), while from 1782 to 1855 the courtesy title used by the heir apparent to the earldom of Leicester was ''Lord Ferrers of Chartley'' (and consequently was not used from 1811 to 1855 as there was no a real heir apparent either to the earldom or marquessate). The current Marquess holds the subsidiary titles: Viscount Townshend, of Raynham in the

County of Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies no ...

(created 1682); Baron Townshend, of Lynn Regis in the County of Norfolk (created 1661); Townshend

Baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14t ...

, 'of Raynham in the County of Norfolk' (created 1617), all of which in the Peerage of England. As noted above, due to being of the same name as the primary title, the Viscountcy has been called "Viscount Raynham" and the Barony "Baron Lynn". The family seat is

Fakenham Fakenham is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is situated on the River Wensum, about north west of Norwich. The town is the junction of several local roads, including the A148 from King's Lynn to Cromer, the A1067 to Norw ...

Townshend baronets, of Raynham (1617)

Sir Roger Townshend, 1st Baronet Sir Roger Townshend, 1st Baronet (c.1596 – 1 January 1637), was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in two parliaments between 1621 and 1629. Family Townshend was the son of Sir John Townshend (died 1603) of ...

(1596–1637) * Sir Roger Townshend, 2nd Baronet (1628–1648) * Sir Horatio Townshend, 3rd Baronet (1630–1687) (created Baron Townshend in 1661 and Viscount Townshend in 1682)

Viscounts Townshend (1682)

Horatio Townshend, 1st Viscount Townshend Horatio Townshend, 1st Baron Townsend and 1st Viscount Townshend (; 14 December 1630 – 10 December 1687), known as Sir Horatio Townshend, 3rd Baronet, of Raynham, from 1648 to 1661, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons betw ...

(1630–1687) *

Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, (; 18 April 167421 June 1738) was an English Whig statesman. He served for a decade as Secretary of State for the Northern Department, 1714–1717, 1721–1730. He directed British foreign policy in c ...

(1674–1738) *

Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend (11 July 1700 – 12 March 1764), known as The Lord Lynn from 1723 to 1738, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1722 to 1723 when he was elevated to the House of Lords by wri ...

(1700–1764) *

(1724–1807) (created Marquess Townshend in 1787)

Marquesses Townshend (1787)

George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend Field Marshal George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, PC (28 February 172414 September 1807), known as The Viscount Townshend from 1764 to 1787, was a British soldier and politician. After serving at the Battle of Dettingen during the War of t ...

(1724–1807) * George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend, 1st Earl of Leicester (1753–1811) * George Ferrars Townshend, 3rd Marquess Townshend, 2nd Earl of Leicester (1778–1855) *

John Townshend, 4th Marquess Townshend Rear Admiral John Townshend, 4th Marquess Townshend (28 March 1798 – 10 September 1863), known as John Townshend until 1855, was a British nobleman, peer, politician, and naval commander. Townshend was the son of Lord John Townshend, younger ...

(1798–1863) * John Villiers Stuart Townshend, 5th Marquess Townshend (1831–1899) * John James Dudley Stuart Townshend, 6th Marquess Townshend (1866–1921) * George John Patrick Dominic Townshend, 7th Marquess Townshend (1916–2010) *Charles George Townshend, 8th Marquess Townshend (b. 1945) The

is the present holder's son Thomas Charles Townshend, Viscount Raynham (b. 1977).
The heir apparent's heir presumptive is his son Hon. Rafe Thomas Townshend (b. 2014).
* ''George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend (1724–1807)'' **''

(1757–1833)'' *** ''John Townshend, 4th Marquess Townshend (1798–1863)'' **** ''John Townshend, 5th Marquess Townshend (1831–1899)'' ***** ''John Townshend, 6th Marquess Townshend (1866–1921)'' ****** ''George Townshend, 7th Marquess Townshend (1916–2010)'' ******* Charles Townshend, 8th Marquess Townshend (b. 1945) ********(1). Thomas Townshend, Viscount Raynham (b. 1977) *********(2). Hon. Rafe Thomas Townshend (b. 2014) *******(3). Lord John Patrick Townshend (b. 1962) ********(4). George Townshend (b. 2003) ***''Rev. Lord George Osborne Townshend (1801–1876)'' ****''George Ferrars Townshend (1854–1942)'' *****''Ferrars Ernest Osborne Townshend (1882–1953)'' ******''Henry George Townshend (1911–1979)'' *******''Ferrars Edwin Townshend (1944–2017)'' ********(5). Hamish Richard Townshend (b. 1982) ********(6). Nicholas John Townshend (b. 1984) *******(7). Anthony Stuart Townshend (b. 1956) ****''Ernest Edwin Townshend (1858–1945)'' *****''Clifford Edwin Townshend (1884–1958)'' ******''John Edwin Townshend (1918–1990)'' *******(8). Keith Edwin Townshend (b. 1948) ********(9). David John Edwin Townshend (b. 1982) ********(10). James Raynham Townshend (b. 1983) ******(11). George Maling Townshend (b. 1921) *******(12). Colin David Townshend (b. 1948) ********(13). Glen David Townshend (b. 1971) ********(14). Zane Colin Townshend (b. 1972) ******''Charles Roberts Townshend (1926–1987)'' *******(15). Robert Paul Townshend (b. 1965)

Notes

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, *

External links

Townshend family website
*http://home.worldonline.co.za/~townshend/lordsarms.htm#top {{DEFAULTSORT:Townshend Marquessates in the Peerage of Great Britain

Marquess Townshend Marquess Townshend is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain held by the Townshend family of Raynham Hall in Norfolk. The title was created in 1787 for George Townshend, 4th Viscount Townshend. History The Townshend family descends from Rog ...

1617 establishments in England Noble titles created in 1787 People from Raynham, Norfolk