The Honourable Thomas Townshend (2 June 1701 – 21 May 1780) was a long-standing British Member of Parliament.
Townshend was the second son of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, from his first marriage to the Hon. Elizabeth Pelham. Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend, William Townshend and Roger Townshend were his brothers while George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, Charles Townshend and Charles Townshend, 1st Baron Bayning, his nephews. He was educated at Eton, and King's College, Cambridge.[1]
Townshend sat in the British House of Commons for Winchelsea between 1722 and 1727. In the elections of 1727, he stood contemporaneously for Hastings and Cambridge University. He had success in both constituencies and chose to represent Cambridge, a seat he held until 1774. Townshend was also for some years private secretary to his father as well as a Teller of the Exchequer between 1727 and 1780.
Townshend married Albinia, daughter of John Selwyn, in 1730. Their son Thomas became a prominent politician and was created Viscount Sydney in 1789. Albinia died in 1739. Townshend survived her by over 40 years and died in May 1780, aged 78.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Bristow George Bubb |
Member of Parliament for Winchelsea with Robert Bristow 1722–1727 |
Succeeded by Robert Bristow John Scrope |
| Preceded by Archibald Hutcheson Sir William Ashburnham |
Member of Parliament for Hastings with Sir William Ashburnham 1727–1728 |
Succeeded by Thomas Pelham Sir William Ashburnham |
| Preceded by Dixie Windsor Thomas Willoughby |
Member of Parliament for Cambridge University with Edward Finch 1727–1768 Charles Yorke 1768–1770 William de Grey 1770–1771 Richard Croftes 1771–1774 1727–1774 |
Succeeded by Richard Croftes Marquess of Granby |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by George Treby |
Teller of the Exchequer 1727–1766 |
Succeeded by John Jeffreys Pratt |