Thomas Downing (restaurateur) facts for kids

Illustration of Thomas Downing from a newspaper clipping

Thomas Downing (1791-1866) was a famous American restaurant owner and a strong supporter of ending slavery. He lived in New York City during the Victorian era. People called him the "New York Oyster King" because he was so good at selling oysters. He became one of the richest people in New York City. Even though he was wealthy, he was not allowed to become a full U.S. citizen for most of his life. This changed only when the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed, just one day before he died.

Early Life and Family

Thomas Downing was born on Chincoteague Island in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. His parents were once enslaved, but they were freed by Sea Captain John Downing. The captain learned that owning slaves was not supported by the Methodist Church. Thomas's parents then took the name "Downing." They worked as paid caretakers for Captain Downing's church.

Later, his family bought land on the island. They earned extra money by collecting and selling oysters, clams, and fish. Thomas grew up with wealthy neighbors and shared the same teacher as their children. One of his teachers was Henry A. Wise, who later became the Governor of Virginia.

After the War of 1812, Thomas joined the United States Army. He then moved to Philadelphia. There, he met and married Rebecca West, who was born free. They had five children: George, Thomas, Henry, Jane, and Peter. Thomas worked as a valet and continued to sell oysters. He wanted more than just digging for oysters. So, he opened his first oyster bar. This allowed him to stay connected to his family's oyster roots while starting a new career. He used his knowledge of oysters and his connections to fishermen to sell the best oysters.

Becoming the Oyster King

Thomas moved to New York City. By 1820, he was selling oysters on the street. At that time, oysters were cheap and a common food. Thomas was a smart businessman. He found ways to make his oyster sales stand out.

One way he stayed ahead was by buying the best oysters from captains before other sellers arrived. When others came to bid, he would sometimes bid on oysters without wanting to win. This made the prices go up for his competitors.

Opening a Fancy Oyster House

Another smart move was to serve New York City's rich and important people. In 1825, Downing opened the Thomas Downing Oyster House. It was much fancier than any other oyster place. He used expensive tablecloths, fine dishes, and chandeliers. This made his restaurant feel welcoming and comfortable for his wealthy customers. His restaurant was in a great spot, right in the middle of New York's business area.

The Five Points area was a few blocks away. This was an African-American neighborhood with many oyster cellars. But these places were often like simple bars. They could not compare to the fancy food at the Thomas Downing Oyster House.

His menu made oysters a high-class meal. Some dishes he served included roast turkey stuffed with oysters, creamy oyster stew, pan-fried oysters, and oyster pie. Thomas's oyster bar was also special because women and children were welcome to eat there. They just needed to be with their husbands or fathers.

Growing the Business

By 1835, Downing made his business even bigger. He added catering and mail-order options. At its busiest in 1842, Thomas's catering business was chosen by New York City. They asked him to cater the Boz Ball, a big event welcoming the famous British writer Charles Dickens to America.

Thomas was known around the world. He would ship his oysters, pickled, fried, or live, to customers far away. One very important customer was Queen Victoria herself! The queen loved his oysters so much that she wrote him a thank-you letter. She also gave him a gold watch, which became a special family treasure.

When Thomas died in 1866, his son George took over the restaurant. He ran it until 1871. Later, the number of oysters in New York dropped because of too much fishing and pollution. By 1927, the last New York oyster bed was closed. This happened because untreated sewage was being dumped into the city's water every day.

Helping to End Slavery

Besides his success with oysters, Thomas Downing was important as an abolitionist. An abolitionist is someone who works to end slavery. He was a founding member of a group called The Committee of the Thirteen. This group helped protect free African-Americans from being kidnapped and sold back into slavery.

His restaurant was also a secret stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a network of safe houses that helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North. Downing allowed runaway slaves to hide in his restaurant as they traveled to safety.

Thomas wanted to use his wealth and power to help the black community. Most of his restaurant's customers were wealthy white people. They likely did not know that the money they spent on their meals was helping to fund the escape of enslaved African-Americans.

Images for kids

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  Illustration of Thomas Downing from a newspaper clipping