Tench Francis, Jr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tench_Francis,_Jr.

Tench Francis (1730–1800) was a merchant, lawyer and agent for the family of William Penn and the first cashier of the Bank of North America.

He was born the son of Elizabeth Turbitt and Tench Francis (Sr.), a prominent Philadelphia lawyer and jurist, at Fausley, Talbot County, Maryland, in 1730. For many years he acted as agent for the William Penn family in connection with their proprietary interests in provincial Pennsylvania. He became the first cashier of the Bank of North America, which office he held until his death. He is said to have contributed £5,000 for the support of the Revolutionary army. He later headed the commission that laid out the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His appointment as purveyor of public supplies on February 23, 1795 unified Navy pursers under a single head, and it is from this event that the Navy Supply Corps dates its birth.

He married Ann Willing, daughter of Philadelphia mayor Charles Willing and Ann Shippen.

Francis died in Philadelphia, 1 May 1800; he is buried in Christ Church Burial Ground.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11324893

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 24 2020, 19:05:09 UTC

Revolutionary patriot. A successful merchant in the decades before independence, Francis contributed heavily from his personal fortune to support the revolutionary cause. He was subsequently appointed first cashier of the Bank of North American and later headed the commission which laid out the city of Pittsburgh. He was appointed the first head of the Navy Supply Corps by George Washington in 1795. Years before, he wrote an important pamphlet on the issue of the lack of paper money in the colonies, "Considerations on a Paper Currency." He was also treasurer of the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike, one of the earliest major transportation project in the country.

Contributor: Kelby (47297253)* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 12 2023, 7:09:47 UTC