Robert Townsend (captain)

Robert Townsend
Captain Robert Townsend circa 1865
Born	(1819-10-21)October 21, 1819 Albany, New York
Died	August 15, 1866(1866-08-15) (aged 46) Yangtze River, China
Buried	Albany Rural Cemetery
Allegiance	United States Union
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1837–1851 1861–1866
Rank	Captain
Commands	USS Miami USS Essex USS Wachusett
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War Siege of Veracruz American Civil War Siege of Port Hudson Battle of Fort DeRussy

Captain Robert Townsend (October 21, 1819 – August 15, 1866) was a Civil War-era ship captain in the United States Navy. He served twice, once before the war then again during the war. He saw active combat while serving aboard three ships, most notably as commander of the USS Essex from 1863 to 1864, an ironclad gunship on the Mississippi River. Captain Townsend died of heatstroke while commanding the USS Wachusett in China in 1866, and is buried in Albany, New York.