Thomas Downing (restaurateur)

He spent his life prohibited from acquiring U.S. citizenship, until the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed, the day before he died.

His parents were enslaved, and eventually freed, by Sea Captain John Downing after learning that owning slaves was not condoned by the Methodist Church.

[2] Eventually, they bought some property on the Island and the family began earning extra money by gathering and selling oysters, as well as other seafood, such as clams and fish.

By using expensive linens and decorating with fine dining ware and chandeliers, he created an atmosphere that was both welcoming and comfortable for his rich clientele.

The competition at the time were known to be dive bars and paled in comparison to the lavish food that was served at the Thomas Downing Oyster House.

The queen enjoyed her oysters so much, that she wrote Thomas a letter thanking him, and gifted him a gold chronometer watch, which became a Downing family heir loom.

[10][11] In addition to his success in oyster sales, Thomas Downing was known for his role as an abolitionist during the American civil rights movement of the 1860's.

As a founding member of the community group The Committee of the Thirteen, he helped protect free African-Americans from being kidnapped and sold back into slavery.

The restaurant's clientele consisted mainly of wealthy white people, who were most likely unaware that the money that they used to pay for their meals were helping fund the escape of enslaved African-Americans.