Henry Robinson Towne (August 24, 1844 – October 15, 1924) was an American mechanical engineer and businessman, known as an early systematizer of management.

During 1864-1866, Towne was placed in charge of erecting engines in monitors for the United States Navy.

[4] Towne was, by this time, looking for a new business opportunity and had become impressed about the possibilities of Yale's new "cylinder" lock.

In October 1868, the two men formed the Yale Lock Manufacturing Company, to be located in Stamford, Connecticut.

Board members of the company included ex President of Studebaker, Albert Russel Erskine, Congressman Schuyler Merritt, and others.

Taylor and mentioned in his book Scientific Management "it consists in recording the quickest time in which a job has been done, and fixing this as a standard.