American merchant, born in Salem, MA, on the 16th of August 1739; died there on the 8th of September 1799. His father was a ship-owner, and the son continued in the business and greatly extended it. He sent trading-vessels to Russia, the East Indies and China. He contributed $10,000 toward the establishment of the American navy (1798) and loaned supplies and ships to the national government. He was, beyond a doubt, the wealthiest man in the United States during the eighteenth century. He was especially active in equipping privateersmen during the Revolution. In order to do so, he was obliged to construct large shipyards at Salem. He furnished the supplies for the French fleet.
