Chauncy Townsend

Not to be confused with Chauncy Hare Townshend.

Chauncy Townsend (23 February 1708 – 28 March 1770) was a businessman and a Member of Parliament (MP) in the British Parliament.

He started his business career as a London linen draper, before becoming a merchant in about 1740. He developed extensive interests in coal mines in the Swansea area of Wales, as well as mining, smelting and refining copper and lead. From 1744, he was as a government contractor supplying military and settler needs in Nova Scotia. By the time of his death, most of his money had been consumed by the mining business.

Townsend was a regular supporter, in the House of Commons, of whatever government the King appointed. He represented Westbury between 1748 and 1768. He was elected for Wigtown Burghs in 1768 and sat for it until his death in 1770. He was the second Englishman to be elected and the first to actually sit in Parliament, for any Scottish constituency. Despite being a Member of Parliament for 22 years, he is not recorded as ever having spoken in the House. James Townsend MP was his son.

References

• History of Parliament: House of Commons 1754-1790, by Sir Lewis Namier and James Brooke (Sidgwick & Jackson 1964)
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by John Bance Paul Methuen	Member of Parliament for Westbury 1748 – 1768 With: Matthew Michell 1748–1753 Peregrine Bertie from 1753	Succeeded by William Blackstone Peregrine Bertie
Preceded by George Augustus Selwyn	Member of Parliament for Wigtown Burghs 1768–1770	Succeeded by William Stewart