Downey was born c. 1765 in Germantown. He was one of five children of Captain John and Sarah Downey of Germantown, Pennsylvania. In this vicinity he spent his early life. His father, who was head of the English School of the Germantown Academy, 1769-1774, was killed in 1778 in an engagement near Crooked Billet.
Through his mother's efforts Downey received a classical education at the celebrated Germantown Academy, where he distinguished himself.
About 1795 Downey removed to Harrisburg, where he opened a school in 1796. He taught school; served the city in the capacity of justice of the peace, 1807-1826; was town clerk for many years and a member of the legislature, 1817-1818. While living at Harrisburg he served about a year as first cashier of the Harrisburg Bank; was active in the incorporation of the Harrisburg & Middletown Turnpike Company; and served as treasurer of the board of directors of the stock company authorized by the legislature in 1812 to build the Harrisburg bridge over the Susquehanna River.
As an educator, Downey proposed his plan of an educational system in a letter to Governor Thomas Mifflin on February 24, 1797. He recommended a state system, comprising: first, two or more elementary schools in each township, supported by a tax on property; second, one school in each township, supported in the same way, in which more advanced studies should be taught; third, one academy in each county, supported by a "very moderate assessment, " devoted to "more liberal science. " He recommended furthermore that attendance in these schools "for a sufficient time should be strictly enjoined under an adequate penalty, " and added the suggestion that it might "not be unworthy the attention of the legislature to raise agriculture from its present servilely imitative practice by encouraging scientific pursuits. " That he was not visionary, however, is indicated in the shrewd observation that "perhaps the public mind is not ripe for the reception" of such a plan. Though Downey failed to gain the realization of his project, the system he proposed was later commended by Henry Barnard as having unusual merit.
Besides this educational scheme, Downey is to be credited with the authorship of numerous humorous sketches, chiefly political, contributed by "Simon the Wagoner, " "Simon Slim, " and "Simon Easy" to the public press, and a compilation called the Justice's Assistant. His skill as a Latinist may be judged from his Latin poem on "A Republican Caucus or Democratic Assembly".
Downey died on July 21, 1826, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
On June 5, 1798, Downey married Alice Ann Beatty, daughter of James Beatty, an early settler of Harrisburg.
