HENRY ROBINSON TOWNE
STAMFORD: Engineer and Manufacturer; President The Yale & Towne Mfg. Co.
Henry R. Towne was born at Philadelphia, Pa., August 28, 1844, where he was educated at private schools and at the University of Pennsylvania, class of 1865. He left college before graduation to enter business, but in 1887 was given an honorary degree of M.A. Entering the Port Richmond Iron Works, Philadelphia, in 1862, as a mechanical draughtsman, he was engaged for over four years on general engineering work, especially heavy marine engines for the monitors and other war vessels, the erection of which he superintended at the Boston, Portsmouth, and Philadelphia navy yards. In 1866 he made an extensive tour of the engineering establishments of England, Belgium, and France, spending nearly six months in Paris, where he studied at the Sorbonne. In October, 1868, a partnership was arranged between him and the late Linus Yale, Jr., best known as the inventor of the "Yale Lock," whose business was then located at Shelburne Falls, Mass., and employed about thirty hands. The new enterprise was incorporated under the name of "The Yale Lock Manufacturing Co.," and Stamford, Conn., thirty-four miles from the city of New York, selected for its location. Having purchased land here, Mr. Towne began the erection of a factory building, when, December 25, 1868, Mr. Yale died suddenly, leaving the young enterprise on the hands of Mr. Towne and a son of Mr. Yale. The former became president of the corporation, and, a year later, bought out the interest of the Yale estate. Since 1869 Mr. Towne has controlled the business and has personally directed its affairs, during which time the number of employes has grown from 30 to 1,000. For several years he was entirely alone in the ownership and management of the business, but its rapid growth led him first to associate others with him in the management, and, later, to augment the capital by permitting others to subscribe for new issues of the stock. Although the Yale patents have all expired, the policy of constant experimental work has developed a series of inventions and improvements which have retained for the company a position of recognized leadership in the manufacture of fine locks of all kinds, and this department is still the most important one in the business, including not only key locks in vast variety but also time and combination bank locks, fine hardware, and metal-working. Other departments are devoted to cranes and heavy hoisting machinery, to chain tackle-blocks, and to post-office equipments. In 1883 the corporate title was changed to "The Yale & Towne Mfg. Co.," and a special charter obtained from the state. Additions to the plant continue to be made almost every year to provide for the constant growth of the business.
Mr. Towne has been an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers almost from its formation, a member of its council, and its president in 1888-89. In 1889 he was chosen chairman of a joint party of some 300 American engineers, civil, mechanical, and mining, which visited England and France. He is a member of the Union League and Engineers’ Clubs, in the city of New York, a director in several large industrial corporations, member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London, England, and other scientific organizations.
Mr. Towne married, early in life, Miss Cora E. White of Philadelphia, and they have two sons. In politics he is a republican.
Source: Illustrated Popular Biography of Connecticut - 1891, Compiled and Published by J. A. Spalding, Hartford Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard Company, 1891
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