biography
pronunciation:
[townzend]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1725–67)
|
| biography:
| British statesman, the grandson of Charles, 2nd Viscount Townshend. He entered the House of Commons in 1747. He was a Lord of the Admiralty and secretary for war (1761–2), and became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1766. He asserted authority over the American colonies by imposing high taxes on necessities, especially on tea (the Townshend Acts, 1767) - a policy which ultimately provoked the American War of Independence (1775–83). |
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