Thomas Downing (restaurateur)

This article is about the abolitionist and restaurateur. For other people, see Thomas Downing (disambiguation).
An illustration of Thomas Downing from a newspaper clipping

Thomas Downing (c. 1791–1866) was an American restaurateur and abolitionist active in New York City during the Victorian era, who was nicknamed the "New York Oyster King". He was one of the wealthiest people in New York City at the time of his death. He spent his life prohibited from acquiring U.S. citizenship, until the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed, the day before he died.[1]

  1. ^ Lam, Francis (March 14, 2018). "How Thomas Downing became the black Oyster King of New York". splendidtable.org. Retrieved June 7, 2022.