Background
He was the son of Chauncy Townsend.
He was the son of Chauncy Townsend.
In politics James Townsend was closely linked from the 1760s with William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne. Supported by Shelburne, he entered Parliament as Member for West Looe at a by-election in 1767. In 1769 he was sheriff of the City of London with John Sawbridge, and together they opposed Sir James Eyre on the place of execution of convicted weavers.
In the same year Townsend followed John Horne in breaking away from the supporters of John Wilkes, founding the Constitutional Society.
In 1781 he presented a petition for electoral reform from the Tiverton activist Martin Dunsford. In 1782 Shelburne saw to his election to Parliament for Calne.
As a member he backed some calls for reform, but mainly supported William Pitt the Younger. Shortly before his death he opposed the impeachment of Warren Hastings.
She was her father"s heiress, but the estate had escheated to the Crown, because she was an alien.
By means of his father"s influence with Henry Fox, Townsend had the estate restored to him by a private Acting of Parliament.