Haym Salomon | |
|---|---|
_-_NARA_-_532941.jpg) An illustration of Salomon | |
| Born | April 7, 1740 |
| Died | January 6, 1785 (aged 44) |
| Resting place | Mikveh Israel Cemetery, Philadelphia |
| Occupation | Broker |
| Known for | Prime financier during the American Revolutionary War |
Haym Salomon (April 7, 1740 – January 6, 1785) was a Polish-born American merchant best known for his actions during the American Revolution, where he was the prime financier to the Continental Congress. Born in Leszno, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Salomon studied finance in Western Europe before emigrating to New York City in 1775. After the American Revolutionary War broke out in the same year, Salomon supported the Patriots by providing financial services while working alongside Robert Morris, the Superintendent of Finance of the United States.
He helped convert French loans into hard currency by selling bills of exchange on Morris' behalf, and also brokered large donations to the Patriot cause. Despite donating his entire fortune to the Continental Army and several Founding Fathers of the United States, Salomon died penniless in Philadelphia in 1785 due to the failure of government officials and private lenders to repay the debt they owed to him.[1]
- ^ Buescher, John. "Jewish Immigration During the Revolutionary War". Teachinghistory.org. Retrieved December 10, 2012.