George Townshend, 3rd Marquess Townshend
Encyclopedia
George Ferrars Townshend, 3rd Marquess Townshend (13 December 1778 – 31 December 1855), known as The Lord Ferrers of Chartley from 1782 to 1807 and as The Earl of Leicester from 1807 to 1811, was a British
peer
.
Townshend was the eldest son of George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend
, and Charlotte Ellerker. His father was created Earl of Leicester in 1782 when he gained the courtesy title of Lord Ferrers of Chartley. When his father succeeded in the marquessate in 1807 he gained the courtesy title of Earl of Leicester. Lord Leicester married Sarah, daughter and heiress of William Dunn Gardner, in 1807. They had no children and Sarah left him after only a year. (The marriage was never dissolved although she committed adultery in a bigamous marriage). Lord Townshend, as he became after his father's death in 1811, was educated at Eton
and Trinity College, Cambridge
. He was disinherited by his father and lived mainly abroad. Townshend died in Genoa
in December 1855, aged 77. The earldom of Leicester became extinct on his death while the baronies of Ferrers of Chartley and Compton fell into abeyance
between his nephew and his younger sister. He was succeeded in the marquessate by his first cousin John Townshend
.
in 1809. They had several children who bore their father's name until 1823, then the Townshend name, and were all declared illegitimate by Act of Parliament in 1842. (According to Francois Velde, one child, being a minor and having no legal guardian, was exempted from the act's provisions). Their eldest son John
(20 July 1811 – 11 January 1903) was baptised with the surname Townshend and assumed the title of "Earl of Leicester". He later represented Bodmin
in the House of Commons
. In 1843 (after the Act of Parliament declaring him illegitimate was passed) he assumed his mother's surname of Dunn Gardner. Sarah, Lady Townshend, died on 11 September 1858.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
.
Townshend was the eldest son of George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend
George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend
George Townshend, 2nd Marquess Townshend, PC, FRS , known as The Lord Ferrers of Chartley from 1770 to 1784 and as The Earl of Leicester from 1784 to 1807, was a British peer and politician....
, and Charlotte Ellerker. His father was created Earl of Leicester in 1782 when he gained the courtesy title of Lord Ferrers of Chartley. When his father succeeded in the marquessate in 1807 he gained the courtesy title of Earl of Leicester. Lord Leicester married Sarah, daughter and heiress of William Dunn Gardner, in 1807. They had no children and Sarah left him after only a year. (The marriage was never dissolved although she committed adultery in a bigamous marriage). Lord Townshend, as he became after his father's death in 1811, was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He was disinherited by his father and lived mainly abroad. Townshend died in Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
in December 1855, aged 77. The earldom of Leicester became extinct on his death while the baronies of Ferrers of Chartley and Compton fell into abeyance
Abeyance
Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
between his nephew and his younger sister. He was succeeded in the marquessate by his first cousin John Townshend
John Townshend, 4th Marquess Townshend
Rear Admiral John Townshend, 4th Marquess Townshend , known as John Townshend until 1855, was a British naval commander....
.
Sarah, Lady Townshend
Sarah, Lady Townshend, went through a marriage ceremony with a fat brewer, John Margetts, at Gretna GreenGretna Green
Gretna Green is a village in the south of Scotland famous for runaway weddings. It is in Dumfries and Galloway, near the mouth of the River Esk and was historically the first village in Scotland, following the old coaching route from London to Edinburgh. Gretna Green has a railway station serving...
in 1809. They had several children who bore their father's name until 1823, then the Townshend name, and were all declared illegitimate by Act of Parliament in 1842. (According to Francois Velde, one child, being a minor and having no legal guardian, was exempted from the act's provisions). Their eldest son John
John Dunn Gardner
John Gardner , formerly of and later of Chatteris House, Isle of Ely, in the county of Cambridge, known as John Townshend until 1843 and sometimes styled "Earl of Leicester", was a British Member of Parliament from 1841 to 1847, elected to represent Bodmin as a Conservative...
(20 July 1811 – 11 January 1903) was baptised with the surname Townshend and assumed the title of "Earl of Leicester". He later represented Bodmin
Bodmin (UK Parliament constituency)
Bodmin was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Cornwall from 1295 until 1983. Initially, it was a parliamentary borough, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England and later the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until the 1868 general...
in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. In 1843 (after the Act of Parliament declaring him illegitimate was passed) he assumed his mother's surname of Dunn Gardner. Sarah, Lady Townshend, died on 11 September 1858.
Titles and styles
- The Hon George Townshend (13 December 1778 – 1784)
- Lord Ferrers of Chartley (1784 – 14 September 1807)
- Earl of Leicester (14 September 1807 – 27 July 1811)
- The Most Hon The Marquess Townshend (27 July 1811 – 31 December 1855)