A special election was held in New York's 1st congressional district April 26–28, 1791 to fill a vacancy left by the death of Representative-elect James Townsend (P) on May 24, 1790, before the first meeting of the 2nd Congress

Townsend had defeated incumbent William Floyd (A) and, as he died before the first meeting of the 2nd Congress and the special election was won by Thomas Tredwell (A), there was no change of parties between the 1st and 2nd Congress