Monument to President George Washington and Robert Morris and Haym Salomon, Colonial Brokers (Chicago, 1941)

American patriotism and philanthropy

The life of Haym Salomon (1740-1785) is surrounded by legend. Some believe that he was a militant patriot working for the American Revolution, both sabotaging the British troops and lending thousands of dollars to the American cause, to help pay troops and support the new representatives. A Polish Jew, Salomon arrived in America in 1775 or 1776 and quickly joined the patriot cause. He spent time imprisoned by the British, bribed his guards for his release, and he later became a wealthy merchant. Salomon also continued his work against the British, trying to convince mercenary soldiers to come to the American side. He was chased out of New York by the British and relocated to Philadelphia, where he became very successful in business. Eventually, Salomon worked as a broker, together with Robert Morris, for the new United States and as an importer of luxury goods. He reportedly lent money to members of the Continental Congress, including James Madison, although the claim is disputed. Salomon also supported the new synagogue in Philadelphia and acquired a Torah for it from Europe, and he helped end political discrimination against Jews in Pennsylvania.