Franklin Townsend

Franklin Townsend
Franklin Townsend
Mayor of Albany, New York
In office April 16, 1850 – April 15, 1851
Preceded by	John Taylor
Succeeded by	Eli Pery
Alderman of Albany, New York
Assemblyman of Albany, New York
Personal details
Born	September 28, 1821 Albany, New York
Died	September 11, 1898 Albany, New York
Nationality	American
Political party	Whig
Spouse(s)	Anna Josephine King
Relations	Son of Isaiah and Hannah Townsend
Children	Rufus King Townsend (1853-1895) Franklin Townsend (1854-1895)
Religion	Presbyterian
Military service
Service/branch	National Guard (Army)
Rank	Adjutant General of New York
Unit	New York National Guard

Rufus King Townsend (1853-1895)

Franklin Townsend (1821–1898) 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 sailing up the Hudson River during the American Revolutionary War. He was active in Albany politics, serving as an Alderman and one term as Mayor of the City. He served as Adjutant General of New York from 1869-1873.

General Franklin Townsend was born on September 28, 1821 to Isaiah and Hannah Townsend Townsend in Albany New York. Franklin's brothers were Howard Townsend, a prominent doctor; Frederick Townsend, a Union officer in the American Civil War; and Robert Townsend, a ship's commander in the American Civil War who lost his life while on duty in China. Townsend's maternal grandfather was Solomon Townsend, a midshipman in the Colonial United States Navy, merchant ship captain, and active in the iron business in New York State through the Augusta Forge which he established in Tuxedo, New York. It could be said that iron ran in the family's blood since Townsend's great uncle, Peter Townsend, established and ran the Stirling Iron Works which forged the great Hudson River Chain which was strung across the Hudson River just south of the important American base at West Point, New York.