1782 - 1783

Thomas Townshend (1733-1800) entered Parliament in 1754. From 1768 he became one of the most consistent and effective opponents of the North ministry. When North resigned in 1782, Townshend took office in the Whig ministry headed by Rockingham, and - unlike many of his colleagues - stayed on when Rockingham died later in the year and was replaced by the Earl of Shelburne. Townshend defended the ministry's unpopular peace with America and France in the Commons; but in April 1783 Shelburne was ousted and Townshend lost office. He took a peerage as Baron Sydney (the city is named after him) and returned to government for a time as Home Secretary under Pitt.

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