Willing, Thomas, 1731-1821

WILLING, Thomas, a Delegate from Pennsylvania; born in Philadelphia, Pa., December 19, 1731; completed preparatory studies in Bath, England; studied law in London at the Inner Temple; returned to Philadelphia and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1793; member of the common council in 1755; alderman in 1759; associate justice of the city court October 2, 1759; justice of the court of common pleas February 28, 1761; mayor of Philadelphia in 1763; associate justice of the supreme court of Pennsylvania 1767-1777; member of the committee of correspondence in 1774 and of the committee of safety in 1775; served in the colonial house of representatives; Member of the Continental Congress in 1775 and 1776; president of the Bank of North America; first president of the Bank of the United States 1792-1807; resumed mercantile pursuits; died in Philadelphia, Pa., January 19, 1821; interment in Christ Churchyard.

<p>Thomas Willing (December 19, 1731 – January 19, 1821) was an American merchant, politician and slave trader who served as mayor of Philadelphia and was a delegate from Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress. He also served as the first president of the Bank of North America and the First Bank of the United States. During his tenure there he became the richest man in America.</p>

<p>Thomas Willing was born in Philadelphia, the son of Charles Willing (1710–1754), who twice served as mayor of Philadelphia, and Anne Shippen (1710-1791), granddaughter of Edward Shippen, who was the second mayor of Philadelphia. His brother, James Willing, was a Philadelphia merchant who later served as a representative of the Continental Congress and led a 1778 military expedition to raid holdings of British loyalists in Natchez, Mississippi.</p>

<p>Thomas completed preparatory studies in Bath, England, then studied law in London at the Inner Temple.</p>