Horatio Townshend, 1st Viscount Townshend

Horatio Townshend, 1st Baron Townsend and 1st Viscount Townshend (/ˈtnzənd/; 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 between 1656 and 1660 and was raised to the peerage in 1661.

Horatio Townshend, 1st Viscount Townshend
Arms of Townshend: Azure, a chevron ermine between three escallops argent

Early life

Townshend was the younger son of Sir Roger Townshend, 1st Baronet, of Raynham, and his wife Mary Vere, daughter of Horace Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury. He was a student at St John's College, Cambridge, in 1644 and travelled abroad in Italy and Switzerland from 1646 to 1648. In 1648 he succeeded his elder brother in the baronetcy.

Political career

He was elected Member of Parliament for Norfolk in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament and in 1659 for the Third Protectorate Parliament.[1]

Townshend was elected MP for Norfolk again in 1660 for the Convention Parliament.[1] He was a supporter of King Charles II and played an important role in the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. In 1661 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Townshend, of Lynn Regis in the County of Norfolk, and was Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk between 1660[2] and 1676. In 1682 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Townshend, of Raynham in the County of Norfolk.

Marriage and family

Townshend married Mary Ashe, daughter of a fellow Member of Parliament, Sir Joseph Ashe. Lord Townshend died in December 1687, aged 56, and was succeeded in his titles by his son Charles, who became a prominent statesman. Other descendants of Townshend include George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, Charles Townshend and Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney.

Notes

References

  • Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
Preceded by
Sir John Hobart
Sir William D'Oyly
Sir Ralph Hare, Bt
Thomas Weld
Robert Wilton
Thomas Sotherton
Philip Wodehouse
Robert Wood (senior)
Philip Bedingfield (senior)
Tobias Frere
Member of Parliament for Norfolk
1656May 1659
With: Sir John Hobart
Charles Fleetwood
Sir William D'Oyly
Sir Ralph Hare, Bt
Colonel Robert Wilton
Philip Wodehouse
Colonel Robert Wood
John Buxton
Thomas Sotherton
Vacant
Not represented in the restored Rump
Vacant
Not represented in the restored Rump
Title last held by
Self
Sir William D'Oyly
Member of Parliament for Norfolk
1660–1661
With: The Lord Cramond
Succeeded by
The Lord Cramond
Sir Ralph Hare, Bt
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Earl of Southampton
Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk
1661–1676
Succeeded by
The Viscount Yarmouth
Vacant
Title last held by
Edwin Rich
(parliamentary)
Vice-Admiral of Norfolk
1663–1676
Peerage of England
New creation Viscount Townshend
1662–1687
Succeeded by
Charles Townshend
Baron Townshend
1661–1667
Baronetage of England
Preceded by
Roger Townshend
Baronet
(of Raynham)
1648–1687
Succeeded by
Charles Townshend

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