Townshend, Thomas, 1st Viscount Sydney (1733 -1800)

Thomas Townshend, of Frognal in Kent, was the only son of Thomas Townshend, second son of Charles, 2nd Viscount Townshend, and his first wife, Albinia, daughter of Colonel John Selwyn, M.P., of Matson in Gloucestershire. He was educated at Eton and at Clare College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1750 and took his M.A. in 1753. He entered Parliament for Whitchurch in Hampshire 1754 1783. He married, 19 May 1760, Elizabeth, eldest daughter and coheir of Richard Powys of Hintlesham in Suffolk. He was Clerk of the Household to George Prince of Wales, and Clerk of the Board of the Green Cloth, but his conduct displeased the `King's Friends', and in 1762 he was dismissed, and went into opposition. In Rockinghams's ministry in July 1765, as a Lord of the Treasury, in 1767 he became joint Paymaster to the Forces and was sworn of the Privy Council. In 1768 he resigned and went into opposition. In 1782 he became Secretary for War, and was created Baron Sydney of Chislehurst 6 March 1783. He was Secretary of State for the Home Department July 1782 to April 1783. On 11 June 1789, having retired from active politics, he was created Viscount Sydney of St Leonards in Gloucestershire.