Doctor Richard Uniacke Townsend

• Residence: Queenstown (Cobh) & Fernhill (Betsborough), Co Cork

Richard studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and the TCD Graduation List records that he qualified BA in Spring 1822 and MA in Winter 1832. Richard Townsend , Chambre Corker Townsend ], Richard Townsend , Horatio Townsend and Horatio Townsend [ were undergraduates at Trinity at the same time. Chambre Corker Townsend , Horatio Townsend and Thomas Townsend read for their MA in the same year as Richard.

In his family pedigree John FitzHenry Townshend shows Richard as a doctor who practiced in Cobh (Queenstown) and died there of a fever. Richard's inclusion in the list of subscribers to 'Lewis' Topographical Dictionary 1837' - "Townsend, Richard, Esq., M.D., Merville, Cove, co. Cork" – reflects this. However, other sources contradict this as described below.

In his book 'A Scottish Whig in Ireland 1835-1838' Robert Graham of Redgorton describes his visit to Cobh where he stayed for a week in July 1835 with Horatio Townsend who was then living at Belgrove on the north east corner of the Island. Whilst there he called on Richard on 19 July and wrote "Mr Townsend and I went to church.....and on our return paid a visit to Dr Townsend, who is a very clever and scientific man and in great practice at Cove.....Dr Townsend is very keenly engaged in preparations for the scientific meeting in Dublin, being one of the committee. He was in Scotland and Edinburgh several years ago and assisted Hooker in discovering a new moss somewhere in the highlands."

In an undated letter to Dorothea, wife of Richard Baxter Townsend the Reverend HJ Fleming, Dean of Cloyne, describes Richard as "a very famous man.....in his day one of the best authorities on diseases of the chest."