He became chairman of the Bankers' and Merchants' Telegraph Company, competitor of the Western Union Born in New York City, Townsend was educated at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School.

[1] He worked in the sugar refining business, and was active in other ventures including the Equitable Life Assurance Society and the Bankers' and Merchants' Telegraph Company.

[2][3][4] Townsend was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-eighth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Henry G. Stebbins and served from December 5, 1864, to March 3, 1865.

[1] During this term, Townsend voted "nay" (the minority position) on the question of adopting the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

[1] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress