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John Townsend (Mayor)
Encyclopedia
John Townsend was a prominent industrialist and politician
in the Albany, New York
area. He was unanimously elected Mayor
of Albany three times and served as the 37th Mayor of the city.
on June 14, 1783 the son of Henry Townsend and Mary (Bennett) Townsend. He was descended from Henry Townsend
one of the founders of Oyster Bay, New York
in the mid 17th century.
Townsend married on July 7, 1810 Abby Spencer, daughter of Ambrose
and Laura (Canfield) Spencer. Ambrose held a number of important government positions in the City of Albany and in New York State, including 35th Mayor of Albany (1824–1826), New York State Attorney General (1802–1804), and Chief Justice of the New York State Supreme Court (1819–1823). Laura Spencer's brother, John Canfield Spencer
served as Secretary of War under President John Tyler
. The Townsends resided at 142 State Street, Albany, NY.
The Townsends had twelve children; Theodore, Catherine Clinton, Edward, John, Mary, Julia, Ambrose Spenser, Laura Spenser, Julia Isabella, Abby Eliza, John and Marianna.
joined the business as a young man in 1849. Upon the John Townsend's death Franklin took over and continued the business.
The business, which was eventually known as the "Townsend Furnace" was located at Broadway, Rensselaer and Mulberry streets fronting upon the Hudson River
for 180 feet and the brick building was four stories high.
.
Townsend was Mayor of the City of Albany in 1829, 1830, and 1832. He was elected to his first term by unanimous vote of the city council on February 9, 1829 upon the resignation of Mayor Charles E. Dudley
who took office as US Senator
for New York. He was reelected to a second term on December 21, 1829 by unanimous vote of the council and began his term on January 1, 1830.
Townsend lost the council election on December 29, 1830 by a vote of 9 to 12 to Francis Bloodgood, who then went on to serve as 38th Mayor of the city. He was, however reelected to the office at the council vote on December 29, 1831 and regained the office on January 1, 1832.
In 1832 an outbreak of cholera
occurred in Albany and Townsend was praised for his efforts in combating the disease.
On November 20, 1833 the council voted to name a park at the intersection of Washington Avenue and the Bowery (Central Ave) "Townsend Park
" in honor of the then former mayor.
He was on the board of:
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in the Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
area. He was unanimously elected Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Albany three times and served as the 37th Mayor of the city.
Birth and Family
John Townsend was born at the Sterling Iron Works in Orange CountyOrange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
on June 14, 1783 the son of Henry Townsend and Mary (Bennett) Townsend. He was descended from Henry Townsend
Henry Townsend (Oyster Bay)
Henry Townsend was the son of Henry Townsend, an early settler settler of the American Colonies, and a member of the Quaker religion.-Biography:...
one of the founders of Oyster Bay, New York
Oyster Bay (town), New York
The Town of Oyster Bay is easternmost of the three towns in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is the only town in Nassau County that extends from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the town population was...
in the mid 17th century.
Townsend married on July 7, 1810 Abby Spencer, daughter of Ambrose
Ambrose Spencer
Ambrose Spencer was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He attended Yale College from 1779 to 1782, and graduated from Harvard University in 1783...
and Laura (Canfield) Spencer. Ambrose held a number of important government positions in the City of Albany and in New York State, including 35th Mayor of Albany (1824–1826), New York State Attorney General (1802–1804), and Chief Justice of the New York State Supreme Court (1819–1823). Laura Spencer's brother, John Canfield Spencer
John Canfield Spencer
John Canfield Spencer was an American lawyer, politician, judge and United States Cabinet secretary in the administration of President John Tyler.-Early life:...
served as Secretary of War under President John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
. The Townsends resided at 142 State Street, Albany, NY.
The Townsends had twelve children; Theodore, Catherine Clinton, Edward, John, Mary, Julia, Ambrose Spenser, Laura Spenser, Julia Isabella, Abby Eliza, John and Marianna.
Iron Business
Townsend moved to Albany, New York in 1802 to work for his brother Isaiah who ran a successful iron and foundry business in the city called "I & J Townsend" The firm was involved in the buying and selling of iron and produced in their foundry machine castings and railcar wheels. Townsend took over the business when his brother died in 1838. Townsend's nephew, Franklin TownsendFranklin Townsend
Franklin Townsend was descended from Henry Townsend one of the founders of Oyster Bay, New York. He was a 19th century industrialist, active in his family's iron business which was a branch of the Stirling Iron Works, the maker of the Hudson River Chain that prevented the British Royal Navy from...
joined the business as a young man in 1849. Upon the John Townsend's death Franklin took over and continued the business.
The business, which was eventually known as the "Townsend Furnace" was located at Broadway, Rensselaer and Mulberry streets fronting upon the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
for 180 feet and the brick building was four stories high.
Political career
Townsend was a member of the Whig PartyWhig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
.
Townsend was Mayor of the City of Albany in 1829, 1830, and 1832. He was elected to his first term by unanimous vote of the city council on February 9, 1829 upon the resignation of Mayor Charles E. Dudley
Charles E. Dudley
Charles Edward Dudley was an American politician.-Life:Dudley was born in England during the American Revolution, the son of Loyalist parents. His father, Charles Dudley, an Englishman, was Collector of the King's Customs at Newport, Rhode Island, where he married Catherine Cooke, of a Rhode...
who took office as US Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
for New York. He was reelected to a second term on December 21, 1829 by unanimous vote of the council and began his term on January 1, 1830.
Townsend lost the council election on December 29, 1830 by a vote of 9 to 12 to Francis Bloodgood, who then went on to serve as 38th Mayor of the city. He was, however reelected to the office at the council vote on December 29, 1831 and regained the office on January 1, 1832.
In 1832 an outbreak of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
occurred in Albany and Townsend was praised for his efforts in combating the disease.
On November 20, 1833 the council voted to name a park at the intersection of Washington Avenue and the Bowery (Central Ave) "Townsend Park
Townsend Park
Townsend Park is a small urban park in Albany, New York. It encompasses a triangle of land formed by the Y-intersection of Central and Washington avenues , with the third border formed by Henry Johnson Boulevard....
" in honor of the then former mayor.
Commercial Interests
At the time of his death Townsend was president of the Commercial Bank of Albany and acting president of the Albany Insurance Company.He was on the board of:
- Water Commissioners
- Albany Exchange Company
- Albany Savings Bank
- Albany Pier Company
- Syracuse Coarse Salt Company
- Watervliet Turnpike Company