Richard Townsend (politician)

Richard Townsend (c. 1731 – 12 December 1783)^[1] was an Irish politician.

He was the oldest son of Richard Townsend, son of Bryan Townsend, and his second wife Elizabeth Beecher, daughter of Henry Beecher and granddaughter of Thomas Beecher.^[2] His younger brother was John Townsend.^[2] Townsend served as colonel of the Cork Militia and was appointed High Sheriff of County Cork in 1753.^[3] He entered the Irish House of Commons for County Cork in 1759 and represented the constituency until his death in 1783.^[4] In 1776, he was also elected for Dingle, however chose not to sit.^[4]

In October 1752, he married Elizabeth FitzGerald, daughter of John FitzGerald, 15th Knight of Kerry.^[3] They had a daughter and a son Richard Boyle Townsend.^[5]

References

1. Johnston-Liik, Edith Mary (2006). MPs in Dublin: Companion to History of the Irish Parliament 1692–1800. Ulster Historical Foundation. p. 127. ISBN 1-903688-60-4.
2. "ThePeerage - Richard Townsend". Retrieved 1 June 2009.
3. Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval, ed. (2001). The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal. Heritage Books. p. 365. ISBN 0-7884-1872-6.
4. "Leigh Rayment - Irish House of Commons 1692-1800". Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
5. Burke, John (1863). Bernhard Burke (ed.). Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry. Vol. II. London: Harrison. p. 1528.

Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by Charles Boyle, Viscount Dungarvan Arthur Hyde	Member of Parliament for County Cork 1759–1783 With: Arthur Hyde 1759–1761 Richard Boyle, Viscount Boyle 1761–1765 Hon. John Lysaght 1765–1768 John Hyde 1768–1776 Sir Robert Deane, 6th Bt 1776–1781 James Bernard 1781–1783	Succeeded by Robert King, Viscount Kingsborough James Bernard
Preceded by Robert FitzGerald Maurice FitzGerald	Member of Parliament for Dingle 1776–1777 With: Robert FitzGerald	Succeeded by Robert FitzGerald Robert Alexander