Thomas Willing
Thomas Willing was an American merchant and statesman who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1731. Together with Robert Morris, they established the firm Willing, Morris and Company in 1757. This exported flour, lumber and tobacco to Europe while importing sugar, rum, molasses, and slaves from the West Indies and Africa. Thomas Willing served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, was the first president of the First Bank of the United States, and was also involved in several other business ventures. He was a strong advocate for American independence and played a key role in the country’s early economic development. There are no records indicating just how much Thomas Willing was worth. However, it was clear to everyone that he was one of the wealthiest men of his time, based on how much he was able to achieve.