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Correspondence of George Townshend and his circle

 Collection
Call Number: MS 41

Overview

Correspondence of George Townshend, 1st Marquis of Townshend, and others in his circle. Most letters written from Great Britain and Ireland (particularly London and Norfolk), some from India or continental Europe.

Dates

  • Creation: 1711 - 1849

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of George Townshend (1724-1807)

George Townshend was the son of Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend and Audrey Ethelreda (Harrison) Townshend. After his education at Eton College and St. John's College, Cambridge, he joined the army. He participated in the War of the Austrian Succession, the Battle of Culloden against Bonnie Prince Charlie Stuart in Scotland, and in the Seven Years' War. He reached the rank of major general during this period.

After succeeding his father to the viscount title in 1764, Townshend was named Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1767. He worked with Prime Minister Lord North to increase British control over Ireland until he was replaced in 1772.

Townshend returned to the office of Master-General of the Ordnance under the North ministry in 1772. By 1782 he was promoted to the rank of full general, and he was created Marquess Townshend in 1787. Attaining the rank of field marshal in 1796, Townshend died in 1807.

In 1751 Townshend married Charlotte Compton, 15th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley, with whom he had 8 children. After her death in 1770, he married Anne Montgomery in 1773, who served as Mistress of the Robes to Caronline, Princess of Wales from 1795-1820. They had 6 children.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet (1 document case: 267 letters in 30 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The bulk of the collection consists of letters directed to George Townshend, including letters likely directed to him. These are organized chronologically, except for a few folders at the end of the series that are grouped by a single correspondent.

The second series of letters consist of letters sent and received to other individuals, many of whom were in Townshend's circle. Where there is enough material, those letters have been grouped into a single folder by correspondent; the last set of folders consist of miscellaneous letters and are again arranged chronologically.

Physical Location

MS 41

Other Finding Aids

See the attached for a detailed list by lettered section (A, B, etc.) and numbered item: ksrl.sc.townshend.pdf

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Alta California Bookstore, 1966

Title
Guide to the George Townshend, 1st Marquis (1724-1807) Collection
Subtitle
Correspondence of George Townshend and his circle
Author
Finding aid prepared by alh, 1970; revised by ksc, 2006. Finding aid encoded by skt, 2006.
Date
2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/0921501720
Preferred citation
Correspondence of George Townshend and his circle, MS 41, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334