Baron Kensington is a title that has been created three times, in the Peerages of England, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Born at Raynham Hall, Norfolk, Townshend succeeded to the peerages in December 1687, and was educated at Eton College and King's College, Cambridge.
Should the legitimate male line of descent of the 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma become extinct, the peerages will be inherited by her sister, Lady Pamela Hicks, and her legitimate heirs male.
Because he believed that it was impractical and unconventional to remain a member of the Lords, the Earl disclaimed his peerages in 1963 under the Peerage Act passed in the same year.
The peerages created for him died out with his grandson the 9th Duke in 1777, though the current Baron Mowbray descends from the 9th Duke.
This is the only example of three generations gaining life peerages under the 1958 Life Peerages Act (the three judges Baron Russell of Killowen were created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act of 1876).
The Labour Party opposed the Life Peerages Bill on Second Reading: Hugh Gaitskell made an impassioned speech against the proposals, arguing for a far more fundamental reform such as total dismantlement of the House or a wholly elected house.
His work, however, was heavily dependent upon those whose names were readily ascertainable from works of genealogical reference, such as Peerages and Burke's Landed Gentry.
These were the Dukes and Princes of Teck and the Princes of Battenberg, who were compensated with peerages, viz. Marquess of Cambridge and Earl of Athlone for the Tecks, and Marquess of Milford Haven and Marquess of Carisbrooke for the Battenbergs.
Lord Londonderry died on 12 September 1729, and was succeeded in his peerages by his eldest son Thomas Pitt.