Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend (11 July 1700 – 12 March 1764), known as Lord Lynn from 1723 to 1738, was a British politician. Townshend was the eldest son of the 2nd Viscount Townshend and was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. After graduating, he entered the Commons when he succeeded his uncle as Member of Parliament (MP) for Great Yarmouth in 1722. He held the seat until a year later, when he was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's barony of Townshend. As his father was already Lord Townshend, Charles was styled Lord Lynn after the barony's territorial designation of Lynn Regis. Townshend then became Master of the Jewel Office and Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk in 1730 and succeeded to his father's titles in 1738. On 29 May 1723, Townshend had married Audrey Harrison (the only daughter and heiress of Edward Harrison of Balls Park, Hertfordshire) and their surviving children were George, later Marquess Townshend (1724–1807) and Charles (1725–1767).
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hon. James Brudenell |
Master of the Jewel Office 1730 – 1739 |
Succeeded by The Lord Bergavenny |
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by George England Horatio Townshend |
Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth with Horatio Walpole 1722 – 1723 |
Succeeded by Horatio Walpole William Townshend |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by The Viscount Townshend |
Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk 1730 – 1738 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Buckinghamshire |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by Charles Townshend |
Viscount Townshend 1738 – 1764 |
Succeeded by George Townshend |
| Baron Townshend (writ in acceleration) 1723 – 1764 |
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