Horatio Townshend, 1st Viscount Townshend

Horatio Townshend, 1st Baron Townsend and 1st Viscount Townshend (14 December 1630 – 10 December 1687), was an English politician known for his involvement in the political landscape of 17th-century England. He was born in 1630, the younger son of Sir Roger Townshend, 1st Baronet of Raynham, and Mary Vere, daughter of Horace Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury.

Townshend attended St John's College, Cambridge, in 1644. Between 1646 and 1648, he traveled abroad in Italy and Switzerland. In 1648, he succeeded his elder brother to become the third baronet of Raynham.

He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Norfolk during the Protectorate parliaments, first elected in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament, and again in 1659 for the Third Protectorate Parliament. Following the end of the Protectorate and the restoration of the monarchy, Townshend was elected MP for Norfolk in the 1660 Convention Parliament. His political stance supported King Charles II, and he played a significant part in the monarchy's restoration process in 1660.

In recognition of his support, he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Townshend, of Lynn Regis in Norfolk, in 1661. Subsequently, he served as Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk from 1660 until 1676. In 1682, he received the title of Viscount Townshend, of Raynham, Norfolk.

Townshend married Mary Ashe, daughter of Sir Joseph Ashe, another Member of Parliament. He died in December 1687 at the age of 56. His titles were succeeded by his son, Charles Townshend, who became a notable statesman. Among his other descendants are Horatio Townshend, George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, Charles Townshend, and Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney.

References for his biography include Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition), edited by Charles Kidd and David Williamson.