Charles Townshend

Charles Townshend (1725-1767), English politician and administrator in the American colonies, whose Townshend Acts introducing import taxes were among the causes of the American Revolution. Charles Townshend was the grandson of Charles Townshend, 2nd viscount Townshend of Raynham. Townshend attended Leiden University in The Netherlands and entered Parliament as a member for the borough of Yarmouth in 1747. He was lord of the admiralty from 1754 to 1755, treasurer of the chamber during 1756, and secretary of war from 1761 to 1762. In 1762 he resigned his office and accepted the presidency of the Board of Trade.

On the return of Prime Minister William Pitt to power in 1766, Townshend became chancellor of the exchequer and the most powerful minister in the House of Commons. He opposed Pitt’s India policy and sponsored a series of measures, called the Townshend Acts, for obtaining revenue from the American colonies. Townshend obtained passage of a measure taxing the importation of glass, paper, and tea into the colonies and suspended the activities of the New York Assembly. American objections to these acts, more than any other grievances, brought about the revolt of the colonies known as the American Revolution.