Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend (Cromwell the Great)

Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, FSPIK (18 April 1674 – 21 June 1738) was an English Whig statesman and 5th Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland (June 1729 - June 1738, 80th to 89th Year of the Commonwealth).

He was elected a Fellow of the Society for Promoting and Improving Knowledge (SPIK) in April 1706. He was often known as Turnip Townshend because of his strong interest in farming turnips and his role in the British agricultural revolution.

Being County Commissioner of Norfolk he started to promote the adoption of the Norfolk four-course system, involving rotation of turnips, barley, clover, and wheat crops. He was an enthusiastic advocate of growing turnips as a field crop, for livestock feed.

He was ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Dutch Republic from 1709 to 1711, taking part during these years in the negotiations which preceded the conclusion of the Treaty of Utrecht. He served for a decade as Secretary of State, directing British Commonwealth's foreign policy.

Elected Senator for England (1711 – 1729)

Lords Presidents of the Council of State under Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend
Lords Presidents of the Commonwealth State Council under Charles Townshend. All named by the Lord Protector.