Isaac Townsend
Encyclopedia
Isaac Townsend was an admiral in the British Royal Navy
and a Member of Parliament
.
A post-Captain from 1720, Townsend commanded various ships. As captain of HMS Shrewsbury
he took part in the expedition against Cartagena
in 1741. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1744, Vice Admiral in 1746 and Admiral in 1747. He was also an Elder Brother of Trinity House
.
He entered Parliament in 1744 as member for the naval port of Portsmouth
, and represented that town until 1754. He did not stand for re-election in 1754, when the Admiralty
supported two other Admirals as its candidates. He had become governor of Greenwich Hospital, and in this capacity in 1757 he had custody of Admiral Byng
, who was under arrest there before his court-martial. After Byng's execution, Townsend was chosen to take his place as MP for Rochester
, another borough in the Admiralty's gift, and was MP for that city for the rest of his life. He was regarded as a reliable voter for the government, but seems never to have spoken in the House.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in February 1750.
Townsend married Elizabeth Larcum, daughter of William Larcum, a surgeon, and they had one son and one daughter. He died in 1765.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
A post-Captain from 1720, Townsend commanded various ships. As captain of HMS Shrewsbury
HMS Shrewsbury (1695)
HMS Shrewsbury was a three-decker 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 6 February 1695.Shrewsbury narrowly escaped destruction on the Goodwin Sands during the Great Storm on 26 November 1703...
he took part in the expedition against Cartagena
Battle of Cartagena de Indias
The Battle of Cartagena de Indias was an amphibious military engagement between the forces of Britain under Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon and those of Spain under Admiral Blas de Lezo. It took place at the city of Cartagena de Indias in March 1741, in present-day Colombia...
in 1741. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1744, Vice Admiral in 1746 and Admiral in 1747. He was also an Elder Brother of Trinity House
Trinity House
The Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond is the official General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales and other British territorial waters...
.
He entered Parliament in 1744 as member for the naval port of Portsmouth
Portsmouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Portsmouth was a borough constituency based upon the borough of Portsmouth in Hampshire. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.- History :...
, and represented that town until 1754. He did not stand for re-election in 1754, when the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
supported two other Admirals as its candidates. He had become governor of Greenwich Hospital, and in this capacity in 1757 he had custody of Admiral Byng
John Byng
Admiral John Byng was a Royal Navy officer. After joining the navy at the age of thirteen he participated at the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718. Over the next thirty years he built up a reputation as a solid naval officer and received promotion to Vice-Admiral in 1747...
, who was under arrest there before his court-martial. After Byng's execution, Townsend was chosen to take his place as MP for Rochester
Rochester (UK Parliament constituency)
Rochester was a parliamentary constituency in Kent. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England from 1295 to 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800, and finally to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801...
, another borough in the Admiralty's gift, and was MP for that city for the rest of his life. He was regarded as a reliable voter for the government, but seems never to have spoken in the House.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in February 1750.
Townsend married Elizabeth Larcum, daughter of William Larcum, a surgeon, and they had one son and one daughter. He died in 1765.