Haym Salomon

Born in Lissa, Prussia-Poland about 1745 and died in Philadelphia, PA in 1785.  He settled in Philadelphia some years before the revolution as a merchant and banker and succeeded in accumulating a large fortune, which he subsequently devoted to the use of the American Government during the War for Independence.  He negotiated all the war subsidies obtained during that struggle from France and Holland, which he endorsed and sold in bills to American merchants at a credit of two and three months on his personal security, receiving for his commission one quarter of a percent. 

He also acted as paymaster general of the French forces in the United States, and for some time lent money to the agents or ministers of several foreign states when their own sources of supply were cut off.  It is asserted that over $100,000 advanced has never been repaid.  To the US Government Mr. Solomon lent about $600,000 in specie, and at his death about $400,000 of this amount had not been repaid.  This was irrespective of what he had lent to statesman and others while in the discharge of public trusts.  His descendants have frequently petitioned for remuneration, and committees of congress have several times favorably reported upon their claims. Edited Appleton's American Biography Copyright© 2000 by Virtualology^TM