George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Honourable
The Marquess Townshend
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Lord Townshend by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
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| Lord Steward of the Household | |
| In office 1799–1802 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | William Pitt the Younger Henry Addington |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Dorset |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Dartmouth |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Townshend
18 April 1753 |
| Died | 27 July 1811 (aged 58) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse |
Charlotte Mainwaring-Ellerker
(m. 1777; died 1802) |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge |
George Townshend, the 2nd Marquess Townshend, was an important British nobleman and politician. He was born on April 18, 1753, and passed away on July 27, 1811.
He held several titles during his life. From 1770 to 1784, he was known as The Lord Ferrers of Chartley. Later, from 1784 to 1807, he was called The Earl of Leicester. He was also a member of the Privy Council (PC) and a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Townshend was the oldest son of George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend. His mother was Charlotte Compton. She held the titles of 16th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley and 7th Baroness Compton.
George had two younger brothers, Lord John Townshend and Lord Charles Townshend. His uncle was Charles Townshend. When his mother passed away in 1774, George inherited her titles. This is when he became known as the Lord Ferrers of Chartley.
He attended Eton, a famous school. After that, he studied at St John's College, Cambridge. For a few years, he served in the Army. He reached the rank of Captain by 1774.
Political Career and Public Service
In 1774, George Townshend officially joined the House of Lords. This is part of the British Parliament.
He held several important government jobs:
- Captain of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners: He held this role twice, first from 1782 to 1783, and then from 1783 to 1797. This group provides a ceremonial guard for the monarch.
- Privy Council Member: In 1782, he became a member of the Privy Council. This group advises the King or Queen.
- Committee for Trade: From 1784 to 1786, he helped with trade matters.
- Earl of Leicester: In 1784, he was given the special title of Earl of Leicester. This title was chosen because one of his ancestors, Lady Lucy Sydney, was related to an earlier Earl of Leicester.
George Townshend continued to serve in government under different Prime Ministers. He worked with William Pitt the Younger and Henry Addington.
His other roles included:
- Master of the Mint: From 1790 to 1794, he was in charge of making coins for the country.
- Joint Postmaster General: From 1794 to 1799, he helped manage the postal service.
- Lord Steward of the Household: From 1799 to 1802, he was a senior official in the royal household.
In 1807, he inherited the title of Marquess Townshend from his father.
Interests Beyond Politics
Besides his work in politics, George Townshend had other interests. He was very interested in archaeology, which is the study of human history through digging up old sites. He was the President of the Society of Antiquaries. This group studies old buildings and objects.
He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for scientists. He was also a Trustee of the British Museum, helping to look after its important collections.
Family Life
Lord Townshend married Charlotte Mainwaring-Ellerker on December 24, 1777. She was the daughter of Eaton Mainwaring-Ellerker.
They had two sons, named George and Charles. Sadly, both of their sons passed away without having children. They also had three daughters. Charlotte passed away in February 1802.
Lord Townshend died suddenly in July 1811, when he was 58 years old. His oldest son, George, inherited his titles. When this George passed away in 1855, the title of Earl of Leicester ended. However, the title of Marquess Townshend passed to his cousin, John Townshend.
