William Bingham
William Bingham was an American statesman, merchant, and banker. Born in Philadelphia in 1752, Bingham made a fortune as a merchant and was one of the richest men in the United States. He was active in politics and served as a delegate to the Continental Congress during the American Revolution. After the war, Bingham continued to be active in politics and was elected to the United States Senate from Pennsylvania in 1795. Bingham was also involved in several business ventures, including shipping and land speculation. He was a major landowner in Pennsylvania and held large estates in the United States and abroad. In 1804, the New York Times reported that Bingham’s heirs inherited his trust that was worth $838,000. After adjusting for modern day inflation, that would be approximately $25 million.