Frederick Townsend

Frederick Townsend, FLS (5 December 1822 – 16 December 1905) was a British botanist and Conservative politician who served as a Member of Parliament for six years

Early life and education Townsend was born in Rawmarsh, West Riding of Yorkshire to Rev. Edward James Townsend, a Church of England clergyman, whose parish was first Rawmarsh and then Ilmington near Stratford-on-Avon. Frederick was educated at Harrow and went on to study at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained a BA in 1850 and then an MA in 1855. with 2nd edition in 1904. He was a friend to fellow botanists Cardale Babington and William Williamson Newbould. He was especially close to Newbould until his death in 1886. ) Both husband and wife worked at improving life for the people of the estate. Her work with the girls' school and orphanage drew the attention of leaders within the Church, and in the 1870s she was encouraged to set up a national organisation, the Girls' Friendly Society. He became a trustee, and supported her in what became her life-work.

As a result of the death of his uncle in 1874, Rev. H. Townsend, he inherited the family estate, Honington Hall, Warwickshire.

He died on the 16 December 1905 in Cimiez, Nice. His widow survived him by 13 years. They had no children.