Background
Townshend was the eldest son of Lord John Townshend, second son of George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend. His mother was Georgiana Anne, daughter of William Poyntz, while George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend, was his uncle.
Townshend was the eldest son of Lord John Townshend, second son of George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend. His mother was Georgiana Anne, daughter of William Poyntz, while George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend, was his uncle.
Eton College; Street John"s College.
He was educated at Eton and Street John"s College, Cambridge. While a student at Eton in 1811 Townshend founded the Eton Society, a debating society which later became known as "People’s". In 1817 he stood as a candidate for Cambridge University but died before the elections took place.