Edward Waterman Townsend (February 10, 1855 – March 15, 1942) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1911 to 1913, and the 10th district from 1913 to 1915, after redistricting following the United States Census, 1910.

He went to San Francisco, California, in 1875 and engaged in newspaper and literary work.

He was an author of novels, plays, short stories, as well as a textbook on the United States Constitution.

His most popular fictional writings were his "Chimmie Fadden" Bowery boy stories.

[4] Townsend moved to New York City in 1924 and resumed newspaper and literary pursuits, and was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters.