Abstract
Stephen Girard trader, banker, millionaire, and patriot lived 81 full and exciting years. Apparently born with a blind or amblyopic right eye, he emigrated from Bordeaux. France, via Santa Domingo to the United States, and finally settled in Philadelphia, where he developed a successful maritime trade. Ultimately, Girard became the first multimillionaire in the United States. Extremely generous, he often walked from his home in the center of Philadelphia to his farm in what is now South Philadelphia distributing shoes to needy children. Probably Girard’s most heroic gestures were his gallant fight against the yellow fever epidemic in 1793 and his loan to the U.S. government during the War of 1812, which allowed the bankrupt country to continue the conflict and ultimately to win the war.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Simpson S. Biography of Stephen Girard. Philadelphia: Thomas L. Bonsal, 1832, p 16.
Ingram HA. The life and character Stephen Girard. Philadelphia: E. Stanley Hart, 1885, p 20.
Simpson S. Biography of Stephen Girard, Philadelphia: Thomas L. Bonsal, 1832, p 17.
Aery HW. The Girard College and its founders. Sherman C., Philadelphia, reprinted 1866, p 7.
Cheeseman AH. Stephen Girard, Founder. 5th ed. 1945. Girard College, 1923. p 22.
Combs N. A generous confidence. In Kirkbride TS. The art of asylum-keeping, 1840–1843 (New York, Cambridge University Press, 1984).
Morton TG. Woodbury F. The history of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 1751–1895, rev ed. Philadelphia: Times Printing House, 1897.
Miller RG. The Federal City, 1783–1800. In Weigley RF, ed.. Philadelphia: a 300-year history. New York: Norton, 1982, p 155.
Matthew C. A short account of the malignant fever lately prevalent in Philadelphia. (Philadelphia: printed by the author) 1794, pp 77–95.
Stephen Girard papers, courtesy, Lloyd C. Minter.
Letter from Deveze to Stephen Girard, 1826.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tasman, W. Stephen Girard (1750–1831): a one-eyed American patriot. Doc Ophthalmol 94, 39–58 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02629680
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02629680