Franklin Townsend

Franklin Townsend
Franklin Townsend
Mayor of Albany, New York
In office
April 16, 1850 – April 15, 1851
Preceded byJohn Taylor
Succeeded byEli Perry
Alderman of Albany, New York
Assemblyman of Albany, New York
Personal details
BornSeptember 28, 1821
Albany, New York
DiedSeptember 11, 1898 (1898-09-12) (aged 76)
Albany, New York
Resting placeAlbany Rural Cemetery
NationalityAmerican
Political partyWhig
SpouseAnna Josephine King
RelationsSon of Isaiah and Hannah Townsend
ChildrenRufus King Townsend (1853-1895)
Franklin Townsend (1854-1895)
Military service
Branch/serviceNational Guard (Army)
RankAdjutant General of New York
UnitNew 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. He also served as Adjutant General of New York from 1869 to 1873.