Lot Essay
George Townshend was born on April 18, 1755, the eldest son of George, 1st Marquess Townshend, and his first wife Lady Charlotte Compton, Baroness de Ferrars. After Eton and St. John's College, Cambridge, he joined the army and was gazetted cornet in the 9th Dragoons on September 29, 1770. He became lieutenant in the 4th Light Regiment of Horse on October 1, 1771, Captain in the 18th Light Dragoons on January 23, 1773, and 15th King's Light Dragoons on December 31, the same year. On his mother's death, he succeeded to the barony of de Ferrars.
Although he did not play a prominent part in politics, he was made a Privy Councillor on April 24, 1782, and became a member of the committee of the Privy Council which managed colonial commerce. On May 18, 1784 he was created Earl of Leicester, and was nominated Captain of the Band of Gentleman Pensioners (now the Gentleman at Arms) by William Pitt. He was Master of the Mint from January 20, 1790 to July 1794, and joint Postmaster-General from the latter date until February 1799, when he became Lord Steward of the Household. On the death of his father in 1807 he succeeded as 2nd Marquess Townshend.
He had a great interest in heraldry and archaeology, and was considered to be the best amateur antiquary of his time; in 1784 he was elected President of the Society of Antiquaries. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Trustee of the British Museum. He died suddenly at Richmond on July 27, 1811.
In December 1777 he married Charlotte, second daughter and co-heir of Mainwaring Ellerke of Risby Park, Yorkshire; they had two sons.
This portrait was evidently intended to hang en suite with other full length portraits of the sitter's father and uncle, the Hon. Charles Townshend, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer. A note in Reynolds' ledger reads: 'March 1775-Lord Townshend's Bill, #944 15 0 paid'. Sittings for the present portrait began in 1773.
According to Graves and Cronin, a critic in 1775 said of the picture when it was exhibited in 1775, 'No.231, Lord Ferrers, whole length, is very finely and characteristically executed'
Although he did not play a prominent part in politics, he was made a Privy Councillor on April 24, 1782, and became a member of the committee of the Privy Council which managed colonial commerce. On May 18, 1784 he was created Earl of Leicester, and was nominated Captain of the Band of Gentleman Pensioners (now the Gentleman at Arms) by William Pitt. He was Master of the Mint from January 20, 1790 to July 1794, and joint Postmaster-General from the latter date until February 1799, when he became Lord Steward of the Household. On the death of his father in 1807 he succeeded as 2nd Marquess Townshend.
He had a great interest in heraldry and archaeology, and was considered to be the best amateur antiquary of his time; in 1784 he was elected President of the Society of Antiquaries. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Trustee of the British Museum. He died suddenly at Richmond on July 27, 1811.
In December 1777 he married Charlotte, second daughter and co-heir of Mainwaring Ellerke of Risby Park, Yorkshire; they had two sons.
This portrait was evidently intended to hang en suite with other full length portraits of the sitter's father and uncle, the Hon. Charles Townshend, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer. A note in Reynolds' ledger reads: 'March 1775-Lord Townshend's Bill, #944 15 0 paid'. Sittings for the present portrait began in 1773.
According to Graves and Cronin, a critic in 1775 said of the picture when it was exhibited in 1775, 'No.231, Lord Ferrers, whole length, is very finely and characteristically executed'