George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend
Encyclopedia
George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend, PC, FRS
(18 April 1753 – 27 July 1811), known as The Lord Ferrers of Chartley from 1770 to 1784 and as The Earl of Leicester from 1784 to 1807, was a British
peer
and politician.
, by his first wife Charlotte Compton, 15th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley and 7th Baroness Compton. He was the elder brother of Lord John Townshend
and Lord Charles Townshend and the nephew of Charles Townshend
. He succeeded in the titles held by his mother on her death in 1774 and became known as the Lord Ferrers of Chartley. He was educated at Eton
and St John's College, Cambridge
, and served for a few years in the Army, achieving the ranks of Cornet, Lieutenant, and finally Captain in 1774.
(a title which had become extinct in 1743). He later held office under William Pitt the Younger
and Henry Addington
as Master of the Mint
from 1790 to 1794, as Joint Postmaster General
from 1794 to 1799 and as Lord Steward of the Household from 1799 to 1802. In 1807 he succeeded his father in the marquessate of Townshend.
Apart from his political career Townshend was interested in archaeology and served as President of the Society of Antiquaries
. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society
and a Trustee of the British Museum
.
and Lord Charles, both of whom died childless, and three daughters. She died in February 1802. Lord Townshend died suddenly in July 1811, aged 58, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son George
, who had previously been disinherited. On the latter's death in 1855 the earldom of Leicester became extinct while the marquessate passed to his cousin John Townshend
, son of Lord John Townshend
of Balls Park.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(18 April 1753 – 27 July 1811), known as The Lord Ferrers of Chartley from 1770 to 1784 and as The Earl of Leicester from 1784 to 1807, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and politician.
Background and education
Townshend was the eldest son of George Townshend, 1st Marquess TownshendGeorge Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend
Field Marshal George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, PC , known as The Viscount Townshend from 1764 to 1787, was a British soldier who reached the rank of field marshal.-Early life:...
, by his first wife Charlotte Compton, 15th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley and 7th Baroness Compton. He was the elder brother of Lord John Townshend
Lord John Townshend
Lord John Townshend PC , styled The Honourable John Townshend until 1787, was a British Whig politician.-Background:...
and Lord Charles Townshend and the nephew of Charles Townshend
Charles Townshend
Charles Townshend was a British politician. He was born at his family's seat of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, the second son of Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend, and Audrey , daughter and heiress of Edward Harrison of Ball's Park, near Hertford, a lady who rivalled her son in...
. He succeeded in the titles held by his mother on her death in 1774 and became known as the Lord Ferrers of Chartley. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, and served for a few years in the Army, achieving the ranks of Cornet, Lieutenant, and finally Captain in 1774.
Political career
Townshend was summoned by writ to Parliament in 1774. In March 1782 he was appointed Captain of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, a position he held until May 1783, and again from December 1783 to 1797. He was admitted to the Privy Council in April 1782 and also served as a member of the Committee for Trade from 1784 to 1786. In 1784 he was created Earl of Leicester in his own right. His choice of title derived from the fact that he was a female-line great-great-great-grandson of Lady Lucy Sydney, daughter of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of LeicesterRobert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester
Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester was an English aristocrat and diplomat.-Life:He was the son of Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester, and his first wife, Barbara Gamage...
(a title which had become extinct in 1743). He later held office under William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
and Henry Addington
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, PC was a British statesman, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1804....
as Master of the Mint
Master of the Mint
Master of the Mint was an important office in the governments of Scotland and England, and later Great Britain, between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Master was the highest officer in the Royal Mint. Until 1699, appointment was usually for life. Its holder occasionally sat in the cabinet...
from 1790 to 1794, as Joint Postmaster General
United Kingdom Postmaster General
The Postmaster General of the United Kingdom is a defunct Cabinet-level ministerial position in HM Government. Aside from maintaining the postal system, the Telegraph Act of 1868 established the Postmaster General's right to exclusively maintain electric telegraphs...
from 1794 to 1799 and as Lord Steward of the Household from 1799 to 1802. In 1807 he succeeded his father in the marquessate of Townshend.
Apart from his political career Townshend was interested in archaeology and served as President of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
and a Trustee of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
.
Family
Lord Townshend married Charlotte, daughter of Eaton Mainwaring-Ellerker, on 24 December 1777. They had two sons, GeorgeGeorge Townshend, 3rd Marquess Townshend
George Ferrars Townshend, 3rd Marquess Townshend , known as The Lord Ferrers of Chartley from 1782 to 1807 and as The Earl of Leicester from 1807 to 1811, was a British peer....
and Lord Charles, both of whom died childless, and three daughters. She died in February 1802. Lord Townshend died suddenly in July 1811, aged 58, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son George
George Townshend, 3rd Marquess Townshend
George Ferrars Townshend, 3rd Marquess Townshend , known as The Lord Ferrers of Chartley from 1782 to 1807 and as The Earl of Leicester from 1807 to 1811, was a British peer....
, who had previously been disinherited. On the latter's death in 1855 the earldom of Leicester became extinct while the marquessate passed to his cousin John Townshend
John Townshend, 4th Marquess Townshend
Rear Admiral John Townshend, 4th Marquess Townshend , known as John Townshend until 1855, was a British naval commander....
, son of Lord John Townshend
Lord John Townshend
Lord John Townshend PC , styled The Honourable John Townshend until 1787, was a British Whig politician.-Background:...
of Balls Park.
Titles and styles
- The Hon. George Townshend (18 April 1753 – 3 September 1770)
- The Rt. Hon. The Lord Ferrers of Chartley (3 September 1770 – 1784)
- The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Leicester (1784 – 14 September 1807)
- The Most Hon. The Marquess Townshend (14 September 1807 – 27 July 1811)