Town shend

Viscount, the statesman, was bom in 1674, and entered public life as a Tory, but soon after became a disciple of Lord Somers. He was joint plenipotentiary with the Duke of Marl borough at the Hague, and was Secretary of State to George I., and for a time the real leader of the Whigs, with his brother-in-law, Walpole, as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The latter, however, soon overshadowed him, and he withdrew into private life. He introduced the turnip into Norfolk, and greatly improved the system of agriculture, especially in reference to the rotation of crops. His grandson, Charles, was the wit and orator of the Chas am ministry of 1766.