Solomon Townsend

Solomon Townsend
Oil on canvas by Ezra Ames, 1808
Born	1746 Oyster Bay, New York
Died	March 27, 1811 (aged 64–65)
Known for	Ship's Captain, Iron Works, New York State Legislator

Solomon Townsend (1746 – March 27, 1811) was a merchant ship’s captain prior to the American Revolution, owned an ironworks in New York State, and was a representative to the New York State Legislature. Stranded in London following the outbreak of hostilities, Townsend's passage back to America was facilitated by Benjamin Franklin. After the war he was a successful owner of an iron works plant, and a member of the New York State Legislature. One of his children followed him into the legislature and another was a founder of what became the New York Academy of Sciences.

Solomon Townsend was born in Oyster Bay (hamlet), New York in 1746, the eldest son of State Senator Samuel Townsend (d. 1790) and Sarah (Stoddard) Townsend. He was descended from the Oyster Bay Townsends, a Quaker family who settled in the area in the mid-17th century, (see Henry Townsend.

Because of a good harbor, Oyster Bay saw a rise in the ship trade in the early 18th century and Townsend's father Samuel owned a number of merchant vessels. At age 20 his father put him in charge of a brig which he owned. Solomon worked for his father for the next 10 years captaining ships.

At the outbreak of the American Revolution Townsend was commanding the ship Glasgow, owned by Thomas Buchanan, which was berthed in London due to the cessation of trade between the two countries. The ship's owner was reluctant to put the vessel at risk by leaving the harbor, effectively stranding the crew in London. Townsend made his way to Paris where he befriended Benjamin Franklin and was received at the French court.

Franklin commissioned Townsend into the Continental Navy and helped him secure passage back to America on the Frigate USS Providence (1775) under the command of Commodore Abraham Whipple. Franklin provided Townsend with the following letter of safe passage:

The Providence arrived in Boston in November 1778. With this voyage complete, Townsend ended his first career at sea. There is no evidence that he ever again sailed the ocean.