Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend

Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend, was born on 11 July 1700. He was the eldest son of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, and Elizabeth Pelham, daughter of Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham, MP. Townshend received his education at Eton College and was admitted to King's College, Cambridge, in 1718. Following his formal education, he completed a Grand Tour, a customary travel experience for young men of his social standing.

In the 1722 general election, Townshend was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Great Yarmouth, succeeding his uncle in this role. He served as an MP for approximately one year until 1723, when he was summoned to the House of Lords via a writ of acceleration, which allowed him to be called up through the barony of Townshend held by his father. Consequently, he was styled Lord Lynn, a courtesy title derived from the territorial designation of the barony, which is associated with Lynn Regis.

Townshend held several notable positions during his early years in the House of Lords. From 1723 to 1727, he served as Lord of the Bedchamber, a court appointment within the royal household. In 1730, he was appointed Master of the Jewel Office, a position he held until 1738. That same year, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk and Custos Rotulorum of Norfolk, roles involving regional governance and judicial responsibilities within the county.

In 1738, upon the death of his father, Townshend succeeded to his father's titles and estates, becoming the 3rd Viscount Townshend. As part of his contributions to his locality, he established and endowed a charity school at Raynham, intending to educate and provide clothing for thirty boys and twenty girls. The girls' education included training in spinning.

Regarding his family life, Charles Townshend married Audrey (also known as Etheldreda) Harrison on 29 May 1723. She was the only daughter and heiress of Edward Harrison of Balls Park, Hertfordshire. The marriage was formally separated around 1740. The couple had children, including George Townshend, who later became Marquess Townshend (1724–1807), Charles Townshend (1725–1767), and a daughter named Audrey, who married soldier Robert Orme. Audrey Townshend died in 1781.

Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend, died on 12 March 1764.