Thomas Willing
Encyclopedia
Thomas Willing was an American merchant and financier and a Delegate to the Continental Congress
from Pennsylvania
.
Thomas Willing was born in Philadelphia, the son of Charles Willing
, who twice served as mayor of Philadelphia, and Anne Shippen, granddaughter of Edward Shippen
, who was the second mayor of Philadelphia. Thomas completed preparatory studies in Bath, England, then studied law in London
at the Inner Temple
. In 1749, he returned to Philadelphia, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, in partnership with Robert Morris
, until 1793.
's assent, had authorized a Supreme Court justice (always a lawyer) to sit with local justices of the peace (judges of county courts, but laymen) in a system of Nisi Prius
courts. Governor Penn appointed two new Supreme Court justices, John Lawrence and Thomas Willing. Willing served until 1767, the last under the colonial government.
A member of the committee of correspondence
in 1774 and of the committee of safety in 1775, he served in the colonial house of representatives. As a member of the Continental Congress
in 1775 and 1776, he voted against the Declaration of Independence
. Later, however, he subscribed £5,000 to supply the revolutionary cause.
(1781–91), preceding John Nixon, and then the first president of the Bank of the United States
from 1791 to 1807. In August, 1807, he suffered a slight stroke, and he resigned for health reasons as president of the bank in November, 1807.
, was a prominent socialite and married one of the richest men in America at that time, William Bingham
. Another daughter, Mary Willing
married Henry Clymer. Other daughters married William Jackson
, Thomas Willing Francis (a cousin), and Richard Peters.
Willing died in 1821 in Philadelphia, where he is interred in Christ Church Burial Ground
.
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Thomas Willing was born in Philadelphia, the son of Charles Willing
Charles Willing
Charles Willing was a successful Philadelphia merchant, trader and politician; twice he served as Mayor of Philadelphia, from 1748 to 1749 and again in 1754.-Family:...
, who twice served as mayor of Philadelphia, and Anne Shippen, granddaughter of Edward Shippen
Edward Shippen
Edward Shippen was the second mayor of Philadelphia. He was appointed to a one year term by William Penn in 1701. In 1702, he was elected to a second one year term, making him the first elected mayor of Philadelphia...
, who was the second mayor of Philadelphia. Thomas completed preparatory studies in Bath, England, then studied law in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. In 1749, he returned to Philadelphia, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, in partnership with Robert Morris
Robert Morris (merchant)
Robert Morris, Jr. was a British-born American merchant, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution...
, until 1793.
Political career
A member of the common council in 1755, he became an alderman in 1759, associate justice of the city court on October 2, 1759, and then justice of the court of common pleas February 28, 1761. Willing then became Mayor of Philadelphia in 1763. In 1767, the Pennsylvania Assembly, with Governor Thomas PennThomas Penn
Thomas Penn was a son of William Penn, founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony that became the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Thomas Penn was born in Bristol, England after his father returned there in 1701 because of financial difficulties...
's assent, had authorized a Supreme Court justice (always a lawyer) to sit with local justices of the peace (judges of county courts, but laymen) in a system of Nisi Prius
Nisi prius
Nisi prius is a historical term in English law. In the nineteenth century, it came to be used to denote generally all legal actions tried before judges of the King's Bench Division and in the early twentieth century for actions tried at assize by a judge given a commission. Used in that way, the...
courts. Governor Penn appointed two new Supreme Court justices, John Lawrence and Thomas Willing. Willing served until 1767, the last under the colonial government.
A member of the committee of correspondence
Committee of correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of American Revolution. They coordinated responses to Britain and shared their plans; by 1773 they had emerged as shadow governments, superseding the colonial legislature...
in 1774 and of the committee of safety in 1775, he served in the colonial house of representatives. As a member of the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1775 and 1776, he voted against the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
. Later, however, he subscribed £5,000 to supply the revolutionary cause.
Banker
After the war, he became president of the Bank of North AmericaBank of North America
The Bank of North America was a private business chartered on December 31, 1781 by the Congress of the Confederation and opened on January 7, 1782, at the prodding of Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris. This was thus the nation's first de facto central bank. It was succeeded in its role as...
(1781–91), preceding John Nixon, and then the first president of the Bank of the United States
First Bank of the United States
The First Bank of the United States is a National Historic Landmark located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania within Independence National Historical Park.-Banking History:...
from 1791 to 1807. In August, 1807, he suffered a slight stroke, and he resigned for health reasons as president of the bank in November, 1807.
Family
In 1763, Willing married Anne McCall. They had thirteen children. Their eldest daughter, Anne WillingAnn Willing Bingham
Ann Willing Bingham was an American socialite from Philadelphia, regarded as one of the most beautiful women of her day...
, was a prominent socialite and married one of the richest men in America at that time, William Bingham
William Bingham
William Bingham was an American statesman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1786 to 1788 and served in the United States Senate from 1795 to 1801...
. Another daughter, Mary Willing
Mary Willing Clymer
Mary Willing Clymer was a noted Philadelphia, Pennsylvania socialite during the time when that city was the capital of the United States. Her portrait by Gilbert Stuart, which was painted in 1797, hangs in Independence National Historical Park on long-term loan.-Life:She was born Mary Willing in...
married Henry Clymer. Other daughters married William Jackson
William Jackson (secretary)
William Jackson was a figure in the American Revolution, most noteworthy as the secretary to the United States Constitutional Convention. He also served with distinction in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War...
, Thomas Willing Francis (a cousin), and Richard Peters.
Willing died in 1821 in Philadelphia, where he is interred in Christ Church Burial Ground
Christ Church Burial Ground
Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an important early-American cemetery. It is the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin and his wife, Deborah. Four other signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried here, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Francis Hopkinson, Joseph Hewes...
.
External links
- Biographical sketch and portrait at the University of Pennsylvania
- The Willings and Francis Records, including correspondence, deeds and legal documents of Thomas Willings' mercantile firm (Willings and Francis), are available for research use at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaThe Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
.