Background
A member of the Townshend family headed by the Marquess Townshend, Sydney was the son of John Townshend, 2nd Viscount Sydney, by his second wife Lady Caroline Elizabeth Letitia, daughter of Robert Clements, 1st Earl of Leitrim.
A member of the Townshend family headed by the Marquess Townshend, Sydney was the son of John Townshend, 2nd Viscount Sydney, by his second wife Lady Caroline Elizabeth Letitia, daughter of Robert Clements, 1st Earl of Leitrim.
He was educated at Eton and Street John"s College, Cambridge, graduating Master of Arts in 1824.
In a ministerial career spanning over 30 years, he was twice Lord Chamberlain of the Household and twice Lord Steward of the Household. Sydney returned to parliament for Whitchurch in 1826, a seat he held until 1831, when he succeeded his father in the viscountcy and entered the House of Lords. In December 1852 he was appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard (Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords) in Lord Aberdeen"s coalition government and was sworn of the Privy Council in early 1853.
He continued as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard when Lord Palmerston became prime minister in 1855, but relinquished the position when the Liberals lost power in February 1858.
The Liberals returned to office under Palmerston already in June 1859, when Sydney was made Lord Chamberlain of the Household, a post he held until 1866, the last year under the premiership of Lord Russell. Sydney was once again Lord Chamberlain of the Household between 1868 and 1874 in William Ewart Gladstone"s first administration.
In 1874 he was created Earl Sydney, of Scadbury in the County of Kent. He later served under Gladstone as Lord Steward of the Household between 1880 and 1885 and between February and July 1886.
Apart from his political career he was also Lord Lieutenant of Kent between 1856 and 1890 and Captain of Deal Castle between 1879 and 1890.
Lord Sydney married Lady Emily Paget, daughter of Field Marshal Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, on 4 August 1832. They had no children. He died in February 1890, aged 84, when all his titles became extinct.
8th United Kingdom Parliament. 9th United Kingdom Parliament]
However, despite Lord Sydney"s ministerial career lasting over 30 years he was never a member of the cabinet.
