11 Facts About Charles Townshend

Charles Townshend was a British politician who held various titles in the Parliament of Great Britain.

Charles Townshend played a significant role in the taxation and control of American colonies, proposing the Townshend Acts, which imposed taxes on various exports to America.

Charles Townshend was married to Caroline Campbell, who later became the Baroness Greenwich, and his brother, George Townshend, became the Lord-lieutenant of Ireland.

Charles Townshend was born at his family's seat of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, the second son of Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend, and Audrey, daughter and heiress of Edward Harrison of Ball's Park, near Hertford.

Charles Townshend was a sickly child, had epilepsy, and had a strained relationship with his parents.

Charles Townshend pledged to find revenue in America with which to meet the deficiency caused by the reduction.

Early in 1767, shortly after The Stamp Act was repealed owing to colonial protests and boycotts of British goods, Charles Townshend proposed that the Parliament could procure revenue from the Americans without causing them offense via "external" import taxes instead of internal taxes.

The Charles Townshend Acts established a Board of Commissioners in Boston to enforce them, which was seen as a threat to the American colonial tradition of self-government.

Charles Townshend had the support of his cousin Thomas Townshend who was a minister in the government.

Charles Townshend conceived a great and dangerous passion for his step-daughter Frances Douglas, Lady Douglas, and her memorialist, Lady Louisa Stuart, wrote after his death of his character:.

Charles Townshend had one of those happy tempers which nothing can ruffle, without a grain of pride, sternness or resentment in his nature.