Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend

The Viscount Townshend
Portrait of Townshend attributed to Charles Jervas, c. 1724, dressed in Garter robes (National Portrait Gallery)[1]
Lord President of the Council
In office
11 June 1720 – 25 June 1721
MonarchGeorge I
Preceded byThe Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull
Succeeded byThe Lord Carleton
Personal details
Born(1674-04-18)18 April 1674
Raynham Hall, Norfolk, Kingdom of England
Died21 June 1738(1738-06-21) (aged 64)
Raynham Hall, Norfolk, England, Kingdom of Great Britain
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Pelham
Dorothy Walpole
Children12, including Charles, Thomas, William, Roger, George, and Edward
Parent
EducationEton College
Alma materKing's College, Cambridge
Known forinventing the 4 crop rotation method
Quartered arms of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend

Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, KG PC FRS(/ˈtnzənd/; 18 April 1674 – 21 June 1738) was an English Whig statesman. He served for a decade as Secretary of State for the Northern Department from 1714 to 1717 and again from 1721 to 1730. He directed British foreign policy in close collaboration with his brother-in-law, prime minister Robert Walpole. He was often known as Turnip Townshend because of his strong interest in farming turnips and his role in the British Agricultural Revolution.

  1. ^ "Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 14 May 2020.