From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Franklin Townsend
Franklin Townsend
Franklin Townsend Rank Adjutant-General
Unit New York National Guard
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 the State of New York from 1869-1873.
Biography
Birth and Family
General Franklin Townsend was born on 28 September
1821 to Isaiah and Hannah Townsend Townsend in Al-
bany New York. Franklin’s younger brother was Robert
Franklin Townsend
Townsend (Captain), a ship’s commander in the Ameri-
Mayor of Albany, New York can Civil War who lost his life while on duty in China.
In office
Townsend’s maternal grandfather was Solomon
16 April 1850 – 15 April 1851 Townsend, a midshipman in the Colonial United States
Navy, merchant ship captain, and active in the iron busi-
Preceded by John Taylor
ness in New York State through the Augusta Forge which
Succeeded by Eli Pery he established in Tuxedo, New York. It could be said that
iron ran in the family’s blood since Townsend’s great un-
Alderman of Albany, New York
cle, Peter Townsend, established and ran the Stirling Iron
Assemblyman of Albany, New York Works which forged the great Hudson River Chain which
was strung across the Hudson River just south of the im-
Personal details
portant American base at West Point, New York.
Born 28 September 1821 On January 15, 1852 Franklin Townsend married An-
Albany, NY na Josephine King, the daughter of Rufus H and Amelia
Died 11 September 1898 Laverty King, in Albany. They had two children. Rufus
Albany, NY King Townsend was born in Albany New York March 18,
1853 died there December 21, 1895 He was educated at
Nationality American
the Albany Academy and at Williams College and eventu-
Political party Whig ally headed his father’s iron business. Townsend’s second
Spouse(s) Anna Josephine King son was Franklin Junior, born in Albany on 4 November
1854 and died there on 31 October 1895. He was educated
Relations Son of Isaiah and Hannah Townsend at the Albany Academy and Williams College and studied
Children Rufus King Townsend (1853-1895) at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York Ci-
Franklin Townsend (1854-1895) ty. After graduation he received practical medical train-
ing in Germany and built his career practicing medicine
Religion Presbyterian
in Albany where he was highly respected.[1]
Military service
Service/branch National Guard (Army)
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Franklin Townsend
Iron Business Whig party ticket, following in the footsteps of his uncle
John Townsend, the 37th Mayor of Albany.
Franklin Townsend’s father, Isaiah established his own
metals business in partnership with his brother John
1804 called "I & J Townsend"[2] The firm was involved
Commercial Interests
in the buying and selling of iron and produced in their In addition to his involvement in the family’s iron busi-
foundry machine castings and railcar wheels. Franklin ness, Townsend was president of the New York State Na-
joined the business as a young man in 1849 upon the tional Bank 1867 to 1879 and vice president of the Albany
death of his uncle John Townsend along with John’s son Savings Bank.
Theodore, (Franklin’s first cousin). In 1856 he changed
the business to a sole proprietor by the name of "Franklin Death
Townsend & Co." until 1871 when his older son Rufus Franklin Townsend died at his home at 4 Elk Street, Al-
King Townsend succeeded him.[1] bany NY on 11 September 1898. His body is interred at
the Albany Rural Cemetery in Albany.
Military career
References
[1] ^ Reynolds, Cuyler (1914). Genealogical and Family
History of Southern New York and the Hudson River
Valley A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the
Making of a Commonwealth and the Building of a
Nation. Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
http://books.google.com/
books?id=iNIUAAAAYAAJ&dq=gen%20franklin%20townsend&pg=P
[2] FP (1988). The New York Public Library Rare Books and
Manuscripts Division Accession Sheet. New York Public
Library. p. 2. http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/
spe/rbk/faids/townsendfam.pdf.
[3] Third Annual Report of the State Historian of the State of
Grave of General Franklin Townsend and wife Anna Josephine New York. Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co. 1898.
King located at the Albany Rural Cemetery http://books.google.com/
books?id=eLcBAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA88&dq=%22Seventh+Heavy+Arti
When civil war broke out in the United States, Townsend Persondata
became involved in raising the One Hundred and Thir-
Name Townsend, Franklin
teenth Regiment which in December 1862 was converted
to the Seventh Heavy Artillery.[3] Recruitment lasted Alternative names
from July 24, 1862 to 18 August and raised 1,100 men.[1] Short description
The regiment left Albany the next day bound for Wash- Date of birth 28 September 1821
ington.
Place of birth Albany, NY
Townsend was appointed adjutant general of the
state of New York for five years January 1, 1869 to 1873. Date of death 11 September 1898
Place of death Albany, NY
Political career
Townsend was active in Albany city politics, serving as
a supervisor alderman and member of assembly. He was
elected the 47th mayor of Albany April 9, 1850 on the
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Franklin_Townsend&oldid=467443734"
Categories:
• 1821 births
• 1898 deaths
• Mayors of Albany, New York
• People from New York
• State Defense Forces of the United States
• American generals
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Franklin Townsend
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