John Townsend (1783-1854)
Iron Merchant, of 142 State Street; Mayor of Albany, New York
He was born at Sterling, Orange County, New York. He joined his brother, Isaiah, in Albany and together they established I. & J. Townsend, Iron Merchants. Their business involved the buying and selling of both foreign and domestic iron and the production, at their foundry, of mill gearings, machinery castings, chilled and dry sand rolls and railroad car wheels. In addition to their interests with iron, the brothers built up other businesses comprised of steamboats, salt production, railroads, real estate, banking and insurance. During the War of 1812 they became heavily involved supplying the army with provisions, supplies and rations, contracting with Elbert Anderson and others.
In Albany, John founded the Albany Insurance Company and the Albany Savings Bank and aided in the development of the Utica & Schenectady Railroad, of which he held the directorship until its consolidation with the New York Central in 1853. He served as the Mayor of Albany for three terms (1829, 1830 and 1832) and at the time of his death he was President of the Commercial Bank, the Board of Water Commissioners, the Albany Exchange Co., the Albany Savings Bank, the Albany Pier Company, the Syracuse Salt Co., the Watervliet Turnpike Co., and was Acting President of the Albany Insurance Co. The brothers, Isaiah and John, and their heirs, Franklin Townsend, Theodore Townsend, and Rufus King, were active in many of the business and political developments of their day.
In Albany, John founded the Albany Insurance Company and the Albany Savings Bank and aided in the development of the Utica & Schenectady Railroad, of which he held the directorship until its consolidation with the New York Central in 1853. He served as the Mayor of Albany for three terms (1829, 1830 and 1832) and at the time of his death he was President of the Commercial Bank, the Board of Water Commissioners, the Albany Exchange Co., the Albany Savings Bank, the Albany Pier Company, the Syracuse Salt Co., the Watervliet Turnpike Co., and was Acting President of the Albany Insurance Co. The brothers, Isaiah and John, and their heirs, Franklin Townsend, Theodore Townsend, and Rufus King, were active in many of the business and political developments of their day.
In 1810, he married Abby, daughter of Ambrose Spencer, Mayor of Albany, Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court of Judicature, and a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Her brother, John Canfield Spencer, also became a U.S. Congressman, serving as Speaker of the New York State Assembly, U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. John and Abby Townsend were the parents of twelve children.
