Frederick Townsend Martin (December 6, 1849 – March 8, 1914) was an American writer, advocate for the poor,[1][2] and an acknowledged leader of society in New York.

We are not politicians or public thinkers; we are the rich; we own America; we got it, God knows how, but we intend to keep it if we can by throwing all the tremendous weight of our support, our influence, our money, our political connections, our purchased Senators, our hungry Congressmen, our public-speaking demagogues into the scale against any legislature, any political platform, any presidential campaign that threatens the integrity of our estate.

[1] Martin was referred to as a successor to Ward McAllister and Harry Lehr as the leader of society in New York.

[3] Just prior to his death in 1914, he bought a 10-year lease of 6 Cumberland Place from Gowdy, to install an art collection bequeathed to him by his "intimate friend" Henry Sands.

[11] Martin, who did not marry, died on 8 March 1914 at the Hotel Berkeley in London, England of heart failure, his body was returned to America for burial.