Frederick Townsend Martin

Frederick Townsend Martin (December 6, 1849 – March 8, 1914) was an American writer, advocate for the poor, and an acknowledged leader of society in New York. His maternal grandfather was Solomon Townsend, a prominent merchant in Albany, and his siblings were Henry Townsend Martin (d. 1915), Bradley Martin (1841–1913), who married Cornelia Sherman, Howard Townsend Martin, and Alice Townsend. His niece, Bradley's daughter, Cornelia Martin (1877-1961), married William Craven, 4th Earl of Craven (1868–1921). In that book, at the time of the election U.S. President Harrison, Martin, commenting on the power of American plutocrats to influence the political and economic status quo of the nation, wrote:

It matters not one iota what political party is in power or what President holds the reins of office. 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. Martin's writings often criticized the extravagances of the indolent or newly rich members of American Society and preached that "...where idleness and extravagance creep in decay begins. Nations as well as individuals have to be reminded of the dangers of these evils and they must be faced". He also hosted an annual Christmas dinner for the homeless on the Lower East Side.

Martin received a large sum of money on the death of his brother, Bradley Martin. It was Sands intention that both of their collections be kept together and housed in London.

Personal life

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. His funeral was held at Christ Church in London on March 11, 1914.

Clubs and organizations Martin was a director of the Metropolitan Trust Company and was a member of a number of social clubs, including the Metropolitan Club, Knickerbocker Club, and Aero Club in New York, the Marlborough Club, St James's Club, Bachelors Club, and Wellington Club of London, the Travelers Club, Automobile Club, and Polo Club of Paris, and the Country Club of Puteaux France.

Publications