He was both mayor of New York City and a senator.

Orphaned by the death of his parent(s) in the Revolutionary War, Allen grew to become a wealthy sailmaker.

[1] He was the 55th Mayor of New York City from December 1821 to 1824, first appointed by the Council of Appointment in 1821 and then elected by the Board of Aldermen in 1823 and 1824.

In 1835, the same year as the Great Fire of New York, Allen moved to 1 Washington Square North, and led the commission that very quickly rebuilt New York's commercial center.

[1] He died in the Henry Clay steamboat disaster on July 28, 1852, on the Hudson River near Riverdale in what was later called the Bronx and was buried at the New York City Marble Cemetery.