Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 57.djvu/122

 which formed an elaborate combination against the emperor without first soberly estimating his offensive strength, and in the perversity which sought in a dispute about the occupation of four Italian towns a pretext for plunging Europe into war in order to shatter the only continental power which could then hold its own against a united house of Bourbon. Lord Hervey (Memoirs, ed. Croker, i. 108) charges him with faithlessness. As a statesman, however, he had no more of that quality than was then deemed part of the indispensable equipment of a foreign minister. ‘Never minister had cleaner hands than he had’ (, Letters, ed. Mahon, ii. 442), nor is there reason to suppose that in private life his integrity was less exemplary. His only passion was business (cf. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's estimate of him in the ‘Account of the Court of George I’ prefixed to her ‘Letters and Works,’ ed. Wharncliffe). A portrait by Kneller was engraved by J. Simon and J. Smith.

Townshend married twice: first, Elizabeth (m. 3 July 1698; d 11 May 1711), second daughter of Thomas Pelham, first baron Pelham [q. v.]; secondly, Dorothy (m. shortly before 25 July 1713; d 29 March 1726), sixth daughter of Robert Walpole of Houghton Hall, Norfolk, and sister of Sir Robert Walpole. By his first wife Townshend had issue four sons and a daughter Elizabeth, who married, on 28 Nov. 1722, Charles, fifth baron (afterwards Earl) Cornwallis of Eye, and died in February 1729 [see ].

Townshend's heir,, third (1700–1764), was returned to parliament on 22 March 1721–2 for Great Yarmouth, which seat he vacated on 24 May 1723, on taking his seat in the House of Lords among the barons, pursuant to writ of 22 May, in which he is described as ‘de Lynn Regis.’ In the lords' journals (xxii. 213) he is called Lord Lynn. His proper title would seem to have been Baron Townshend de Lynn Regis. He was appointed at the same time lord of the bedchamber, and held that office during the rest of the reign of George I. He was appointed on 15 June 1730 custos rotulorum and lord-lieutenant of Norfolk, and master of the jewel office, but resigned these offices on succeeding his father as third Viscount Townshend. He died on 12 March 1764. By his wife Etheldreda or Audrey (m. 29 May 1723; d. 9 March 1788), daughter of Edward Harrison of Balls Park, Hertfordshire, governor of Madras (1711–20), he left issue two sons—George, first marquis Townshend [q. v.], and Charles Townshend (1725–1767) [q. v.], chancellor of the exchequer in Lord Chatham's administration—and a daughter, Etheldreda (m. the Rev. Robert Orme; d in February 1781).

Townshend's second son, by his first wife, (1701–1780), born on 2 June 1701, was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge, of which he was M.A. (1727). He was M.P. for Winchelsea 1722–7, and for Cambridge University 1727–1774. He acted for some years as his father's private secretary, and was a man of scholarly accomplishments and great social charm. He was teller of the exchequer from 12 Aug. 1727 until his death in May 1780 (Hist. Reg. Chron. Diary, 1727, p. 31; Ann. Reg. 1780, p. 250). By his wife Albinia (m. 2 May 1730; d. 7 Sept. 1739), daughter of John Selwyn of Matson, Gloucestershire, and Chislehurst, Kent, he had, with other issue, a son Thomas (first Viscount Sydney) [q. v.], who is separately noticed.

(1702?–1738), Charles Townshend's third son, born about 1702, was returned to parliament for Great Yarmouth on 11 June 1723, and retained the seat until his death on 29 Jan. 1737–8 (Hist. Reg. Chron. Diary, 1738, p. 7). By his wife Henrietta (m. 29 May 1725; d. in January 1755), only daughter of Lord William Paulet or Powlett, he had, with other issue [see ], a son Charles Townshend, baron Bayning [q. v.] (Lords' Journals, xli. 451).

(1708–1760), the youngest son by the first marriage, born on 15 June 1708, cavalry officer, M.P. for Great Yarmouth 1737–8–1747, and for Eye, Suffolk, 1747–8, present as aide-de-camp to George II at the battle of Dettingen on 27 June 1743 (N.S.), was governor of North Yarmouth garrison from 5 Jan. 1744–5, and receiver of customs from 28 Feb. 1747–8 until his death (unmarried) on 7 Aug. 1760 (Gent. Mag. 1760, p. 394; Court and City Reg. 1759, p. 173).

By his second wife Townshend had four sons and two daughters: (1) George Townshend (1715–1769) [q. v.]; (2) Augustus Townshend (baptised on 24 Oct. 1716; d. captain of an East Indiaman at Batavia in 1746); (3) Horatio Townshend, commissioner of the victualling office (d. unmarried at Lisbon in February 1764); (4) Edward Townshend. The last-named was of Trinity College, Cambridge (M.A. 1742, D.D. 1761) took holy orders, was collated to the rectory of Pulham, Norfolk, on the death, 16 Nov. 1745, of William Broome [q. v.], appointed on 27 Nov. and installed on 9 Dec. 1749