His younger son, the third Baronet (who succeeded his elder brother), played an important role in the restoration of the monarchy after the Civil War and was also Member of Parliament for Norfolk.

His eldest son, the third Viscount, briefly represented Great Yarmouth in the House of Commons.

He was a Field Marshal in the Army and served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and as Master-General of the Ordnance.

In 1784, 23 years before he succeeded his father, he was created Earl of Leicester in the Peerage of Great Britain.

On his death in 1855 the earldom of Leicester became extinct while the baronies of Ferrers of Chartley and Compton fell into abeyance.

Lord Townshend was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy and also sat as Member of Parliament for Tamworth.

As of 2013[update] the titles are held by the latter's great-grandson, the eighth Marquess, who succeeded his father in April 2010.

Charles Townshend, second son of the third Viscount, was a prominent statesman and orator and served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1766 to 1767.

Between 1807 and 1855 the courtesy title was Earl of Leicester (although the title was not used from 1811 to 1855 as there was no a real heir apparent to the marquessate during this period, but earldom "usurped" by John Dunn-Gardner in 1823–1843), while from 1782 to 1855 the courtesy title used by the heir apparent to the earldom of Leicester was Lord Ferrers of Chartley (and consequently was not used from 1811 to 1855 as there was no a real heir apparent either to the earldom or marquessate).

As noted above, due to being of the same name as the primary title, the Viscountcy has been called "Viscount Raynham" and the Barony "Baron Lynn".