Anne Townshend, Marchioness Townshend
Anne Townshend, Marchioness Townshend, formerly Anne Montgomery, was the second wife of George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, previously Viscount Townshend.
She was the daughter of Sir William Montgomery, 1st Baronet, and his first wife, Hannah. Her only brother William died in 1777, while on active service during the American War of Independence, and her half-brother George inherited the baronetcy. The family seat was at Macbie Hill, Peebles, Scotland.
Anne Montgomery married the viscount on 19 May 1773. He already had three children by his first wife, who died in 1770. With Anne, he had a further six children:
In 1787, Anne's husband was created 1st Marquess Townshend. The Marchioness was officially Mistress of the Robes to Caroline, Princess of Wales, from 1795 to 1808.
Her portrait, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, is held by the National Portrait Gallery. She is also one of the sitters in Reynolds' A Sacrifice to Hymen, along with her sisters Elizabeth and Barbara.
