Audrey Etheldreda Townshend born Audrey Etheldreda Harrison became Lady Lynn and later Etheldreda, Viscountess Townshend (1708 – 5 March 1788) was an English society hostess.
Etheldreda Townshend | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Audrey Etheldreda Harrison 1708 |
| Died | 5 March 1788 (aged 79–80) |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | aristocrat |
| Known for | notorious society hostess |
| Spouse | Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend |
| Partner(s) | Thomas Winnington (1696–1746), William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, Lord Frederick Campbell and Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland |
Life edit
She was born in 1708 and she was known as "Etheldreda".[1] Her parents were Frances and Edward Harrison of Balls Park in Hertfordshire. Her father had been an MP, a governor of a fort in Madras and in 1767 the chair of the East India Company. She was one of four children, but the others died and she became the sole heiress.[2]
On 29 May 1723, she married Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend.[3] He was promoted to the House of Lords in 1724, despite his father still being alive, using one of his father's spare titles. He became known as Lord Lynn, and she was known as Lady Lynn until 1738. Her husband paid her little attention, as he was devoted to his mistress, who had been a servant. He was based at his family seat of Raynham. They lived separate lives, separating formally around 1740.[2] Townsend died on 12 March 1764. Their children were George, later Marquess Townshend (1724–1807), Charles (1725–1767), and Audrey (died 1781), who eloped with the soldier Richard Orme.[2]
Etheldreda was described as "a frolicsome dame". She had friendships with powerful men.[4] Thomas Winnington became her lover in 1742. He died in 1746, as did the next object of her attentions. She became a Jacobite (briefly), as she admired William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, but he had led troops against the king and he was hanged.[2]
References edit
- ^ "Collections Online | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Townshend [née Harrison], Etheldreda [Audrey], Viscountess Townshend (c. 1708–1788), society hostess". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/68358. Retrieved 14 October 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "TOWNSHEND, Hon. Charles (1700-64)". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ Griffin, Patrick (1 January 2017). The Townshend Moment: The Making of Empire and Revolution in the Eighteenth Century. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-21897-8.