Girard, Stephen (1750-1831)

French-born US merchant, financier, and philanthropist. He ran a successful international shipping business before moving into banking, insurance, and real estate. During the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, he managed a fever hospital and personally nursed the ill. He founded the Bank of Stephen Girard, which greatly assisted the federal government during the War of 1812 and afterward with loans and stock purchases. He left nearly $7 million to charities, especially for the education of poor, white male orphans; Girard College was opened for this purpose in 1848 (and began to admit African-American youths in 1968). Born in Bordeaux, France, he went to sea at age 14 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1776.