7th Marquess Townshend (1916-2010)

_The 7th Marquess Townshend, who died on St George's Day 2010, aged 93, had been a peer for 88 years, having inherited the peerage in 1921.

George John Patrick Dominic [Townshend], 7th Marquess Townshend, was born 13 May, 1916, son of the 6th Marquess (1866-1921), by his wife, the former Gwladys Ethel Gwendolen Eugénie Sutherst, d. 10 Oct 1959), 1st dau. of Thomas Sutherst, of Fountains Court, Temple, London.

Succeeded his father, 17 Nov 1921, aged 5.

He married firstly, 2 Sep 1939 (div. 1960) Elizabeth Pamela Audrey Luby (mar. (2) 1960 Brig Sir James Gault KCMG; d. 1989), only dau. of Lt Col Thomas Luby, Judicial Commissioner, ICS, by whom he had issue; married 2ndly, 22 Dec 1960, Ann Frances Darlow (d. 1988), only dau. of Arthur Pellew Darlow, of Portugal, by whom he had further issue, and married 3rdly, 7 May 2004 Philippa Sophia Swire (b. 28 Apr 1935; widow of Humphrey Roger Swire, of Dean Manor, Charlbury, co. Oxford, only son of Lt Col Cyril George William Swire, of Coldicote Farm, Moreton-in-Marsh, co. Gloucester), only dau. of Lt Col George Jardine Kidston later Kidston-Montgomerie of Southannan DSO MC, of Longbottom, Biddesden, co. Hampshire, and Fairlie, co. Ayr (by his wife Lydia Cecilia Mason, dau. of Maj Peter George Mason DSO), 1st son and heir of Richard Logan Kidston by his wife Sophia Egidia Guendolen Allenby-Montgomerie, 1st dau. of Capt Samuel Hynman Allenby later Allenby-Montgomerie, of Southannan House, co. Ayr, and Garnsgate Hall, co. Lincoln, by his wife Lady Sophia Constance Montgomerie, 1st dau. and cohrss. of Archibald William [Montgomerie], 14th Earl of Eglinton.

Lord Townshend is succeeded by his son from his 1st marriage, Charles George Townshend, styled Viscount Raynham (b. 26 Sep 1945), mar. (1) 8 Oct 1975 Hermione Evans (former wife of Anthony J C Evans; d. 1985), only child of Lt Cdr Robert Martin Dominic Ponsonby RN (by his first wife Dorothy Edith Jane Lane, yst. dau. of Henry Hervey Vincent Lane, of King's Bromley Manor, co. Stafford), 1st son of Sir George Arthur Ponsonby KCVO, Comptroller and Private Secretary to HM Queen Maud of Norway 1919-38 (by his first wife Julia Winifred Maitland OIdfield, dau. of Phineas A R Oldfield), 1st son of Robert Charles Ponsonby (by his wife Mary Machlachlan, 1st dau. of George Machlachlan of Machlachlan), 3rd son of Rt Hon Sir Spencer Cecil Brabazon Ponsonby later Ponsonby-Fane GCB ISO, of Brympton, Yeovil, co. Somerset (by his wife Hon Louisa Anne Rose Lee Dillon, 3rd dau. of Henry Augustus [Dillon], 13th Viscount Dillon), 6th son of John William [Ponsonby], 4th Earl of Bessborough, &c.

A service of Thanksgiving is to be held at Nnorwich Cathedral.

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