Marquess Townshend


Marquess Townshend is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain held by the Townshend family of Raynham Hall in Norfolk. The title was created in 1787 for George Townshend, 4th Viscount Townshend.

History

The Townshend family descends from Roger Townshend, 1st Baronet|Roger Townshend], who in 1617 was created a baronet, of Raynham in the County of Norfolk, in the Baronetage of England. He later represented Orford and Norfolk in the House of Commons. His younger son, the third Baronet, played an important role in the restoration of the monarchy after the Civil War and was also Member of Parliament for Norfolk. In 1661 he was created Baron Townshend, of Lynn Regis in the County of Norfolk, and in 1682 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Townshend, of Raynham in the County of Norfolk. Both titles were in the Peerage of England.
He was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount. He was a prominent statesman and served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department from 1714 to 1716 and from 1721 to 1730. Lord Townshend is also remembered for the agricultural reforms he undertook at his Norfolk estate and gained the nickname "Turnip Townshend". His eldest son, the third Viscount, briefly represented Great Yarmouth in the House of Commons. However, in 1723, during his father's lifetime, he was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Townshend. Lord Townshend later served as Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, the fourth Viscount. He was a Field Marshal in the Army and served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and as Master-General of the Ordnance. In 1787 he was created Marquess Townshend in the Peerage of Great Britain. Lord Townshend married as his first wife [Charlotte Townshend, 16th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley|Charlotte Compton, 16th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley and 7th Baroness Compton]. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Marquess. He had already on his mother's death in 1770 succeeded in the baronies Ferrers of Chartley and Compton. In 1784, 23 years before he succeeded his father, he was created Earl of Leicester in the Peerage of Great Britain. His choice of title derived from his descent from Lady Lucy Sydney, daughter of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester. Lord Townshend later held office as Master of the Mint, as Joint Postmaster General and as Lord Steward of the Household.
His son, the third Marquess, was childless. On his death in 1855 the earldom of Leicester became extinct while the baronies of Ferrers of Chartley and Compton fell into abeyance. He was succeeded in the other titles by his first cousin, the fourth Marquess. He was the son of Lord John Townshend, second son of the first Marquess. Lord Townshend was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy and also sat as Member of Parliament for Tamworth. His son, the fifth Marquess, also represented Tamworth in Parliament. Both the fifth Marquess and his only son, the sixth Marquess, became significantly indebted, necessitating the sale of portions of the family estates and financial interventions, which proved successful. On the death of the sixth Marquess in 1921, he was succeeded by his only son, the seventh Marquess, who was then only five years old. He served as chairman of Anglia Television from 1958 to 1986. the titles are held by the latter's grandson, the ninth Marquess, who succeeded his father in November 2025.
Several other members of the Townshend family have also gained distinction. Charles Townshend, second son of the third Viscount, was a prominent statesman and orator and served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1766 to 1767. The politician Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, after whom the town of Sydney, Australia, was named, was the son of the Hon. Thomas Townshend, second son of the second Viscount. Sydney's grandson was the Liberal politician John Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney. Charles Townshend, 1st Baron Bayning, was the son of the Hon. William Townshend, third son of the second Viscount. See also Roger Townshend, Admiral George Townshend, Lord [Charles Townshend (1785–1853)|Lord Charles Townshend], Lord John Townshend, Lord Charles Townshend, Lord James Townshend, Charles Fox Townshend and Major-General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend.
As Lord Townshend holds no titles with names different from his main title, the territorial designation from his viscountcy is used for his heir, who is styled Viscount Raynham. Between 1807 and 1855 the courtesy title was Earl of Leicester, while from 1782 to 1855 the courtesy title used by the heir apparent to the earldom of Leicester was Lord Ferrers of Chartley.
The current Marquess holds several subsidiary titles: Viscount Townshend, of Raynham in the County of Norfolk ; Baron Townshend, of Lynn Regis in the County of Norfolk ; Townshend Baronet, 'of Raynham in the County of Norfolk', all of which are in the Peerage of England. As noted above, due to being of the same name as the primary title, the Viscountcy has been called "Viscount Raynham" and the Barony "Baron Lynn".
The family seat is Raynham Hall, Fakenham, Norfolk.

Townshend baronets, of Raynham (1617)

Barons Townshend (1661)

Viscounts Townshend (1682)

Marquesses Townshend (1787)

Present peer

Thomas Charles Townshend, 9th Marquess Townshend, is the son of the 8th Marquess and his first wife Hermione Ponsonby. He was styled as Viscount Raynham from birth and was educated at Oundle School and the RAC Cirencester.
On 20 November 2025, he succeeded as Marquess Townshend, Viscount Townshend of Raynham, and Baron Townshend of Lynn Regis, and also became the 14th Townshend baronet, of Rainham, Norfolk.
In 2011, he married Octavia Christina Legge, daughter of Christopher David Legge, and they have had two children:
Townshend still lives at the family seat, Raynham Hall. The heir apparent is his son Rafe Thomas Townshend, Viscount Raynham.
  • 35px George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend
  • *35px George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend
  • **35px George Ferrers Townshend, 3rd Marquess Townshend
  • *Lord John Townshend
  • **35px John Townshend, 4th Marquess Townshend
  • ***35px John Townshend, 5th Marquess Townshend
  • ****35px John Townshend, 6th Marquess Townshend
  • *****35px George Townshend, 7th Marquess Townshend
  • ******35px Charles Townshend, 8th Marquess Townshend
  • *******35px Thomas Townshend, 9th Marquess Townshend
  • ********. Rafe Thomas Townshend, Viscount Raynham
  • ******. Lord John Patrick Townshend
  • *******. George Townshend
  • **Rev. Lord George Osborne Townshend
  • ***George Ferrars Townshend
  • ****Ferrars Ernest Osborne Townshend
  • *****Henry George Townshend
  • ******Ferrars Edwin Townshend
  • *******male issue in remainder
  • ***Ernest Edwin Townshend
  • ****Clifford Edwin Townshend
  • *****John Edwin Townshend
  • ******male issue in remainder
  • *****George Maling Townshend
  • ******male issue in remainder
  • *****Charles Roberts Townshend
  • ******male issue in remainder