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Townshend, Charles James, Amherst, ex-M.P. for Cumberland, N.S., was born at Amherst, Nova Scotia, on 22nd March, 1844. He is a son of the Rev. Canon Townshend, rector of Amherst, and Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of the late honourable Alexander Stewart, C.B., formerly master of the Rolls of the Province of Nova Scotia, and judge of the Vice-Admirality Court. Canon Townshend is the son of the late Honourable William Townshend of Wrexham, England [note England and not Wales]. The family are descendants of the Townshends of Norfolk, England.
Charles James Townshend was educated at the Collegiate school, Windsor, Nova Scotia, and subsequently at the University of King's College, Windsor, where he graduated with high honours in 1862. His chief studies were classics, mathematics, and French and German. He took the degree of B.A in 1863, and B.C.L.. in 1872.
In the old Nova Scotia militia he was gazetted captain 1st Cumberland regiment in 1863, and the next year was appointed adjutant to the same regiment. He continued an active officer until the change made after Confederation reorganizing the whole system, when he retired from further connection with the service.
Mr Townshend was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in April, 1866, and he has continued in active practice up to the present time. He studied law in the office of the Honourable Senator Dickey at Amherst, Nova Scotia. Shortly after Mr. Townshend had been admitted to the bar, Senator Dickey retired from practice, and he succeeded to a large and lucrative business. He has been a leading counsel in the province for many years past, and has been engaged in all important cases in Cumberland, and in some of the adjoining counties.
In 1881 he was appointed by the Dominion government a Q.C. In 1874 he was nominated by the Liberal-Conservative convention as local candidate for the County of Cumberland. He contested the seat, and was defeated by a small majority, owing to an unfortunate split in the Conservative ranks, which resulted in three Conservative candidates taking the field. In 1878 he again contested the county for the local seat in conjunction with Sir Charles Tupper, who ran at the same time for the House of Commons, and with him was returned by a majority of nearly 600. The result of the general elections was to defeat the existing administration in Nova Scotia.
On the formation of a Conservative government under Hon. S. H. Holmes, Mr Townshend was made a member without portfolio. He remained in the government for four years, when, on Mr Holmes' resignation, he was again made a member of the new government, under the Hon Mr. Thompson, minister of justice. At the general election in 1882, he was again elected for the County of Cumberland, but the government was defeated; and he resigned office along with his colleagues in July, 1882. Mr Townshend was one of the leading speakers in opposition to the policy of the new government, formed by Mr. Pipes. On the resignation of Sir Charles Tupper of his seat in the House of Commons in May 1884, our subject was almost unanimously nominated by the Liberal-Conservatives as their candidate for the Dominion. Subsequently, on June 26th, 1884, having resigned his seat in the local House, he was elected to the House of Commons by acclamation. On January 29th, 1885, he seconded the Address in answer to the Speech from the Throne, and was complimented by both Sir John A. Macdonald and Mr Blake. During the session he spoke on the Franchise bill, taking strong ground against extending the franchise to women, and moved the amendment striking that clause out of the bill, which was carried after a long debate.
He is director of, and solicitor for, the Amherst Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Company, of which he was one of the chief founders. This business, it may be added, is one of the most successful commercial enterprises in the Maritime provinces. He is solicitor for the Cumberland Coal and Railway Company, the largest colliery in Nova Scotia; and is also solicitor for the Bank of Nova Scotia at Amherst. Mr Townshend admitted J. Medley Townshend, his brother, and Arthur R. Dickey, son of Senator Dickey, into partnership with him in 1878. He is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Grand lodge of Nova Scotia, and has been district deputy grand master, and master of Acacia lodge.
In 1875 and 1876 he travelled through Great Britain; and visited the principle cities of Europe and the United States. In 1885 he went across the continent to British Columbia.
In church matters Mr. Townshend is an adherent of the Church of England; and has been appointed delegate both to the diocesan and provincial synods. He married in April, 1867, Laura, fourth daughter of John D. Kinnear, judge of Probate for the County of Cumberland, by whom he has three children. His wife died on the 17th March, 1884. He has always resided at Amherst, Nova Scotia, except when absent attending sessions of the legislature, or travelling.
| Hon Sir Charles Townshend (1844 - 1924), son of Hon Canon Rev George Townshend, grandson of Hon William Townshend, great-grandson of Richard Townshend (1721 - ????), probable great-great-grandson of Charles Townshend (1700 - 1764). He married Laura Kinnear (b.1848-1884) in 1867 and had 8 children:
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