1. Haym Salomon was a Polish-born American merchant best known for his actions during the American Revolution, where he was the prime financier to the Continental Congress.
25 Facts About Haym Salomon
1. 2.
Haym Salomon helped convert French loans into hard currency by selling bills of exchange on Morris' behalf, and brokered large donations to the Patriot cause.
3.
From 1781 to 1784, Haym Salomon helped provide over $650,000.
4.
Haym Salomon was an advocate for religious liberty by co-founding Philadelphia's Mikveh Israel synagogue and challenging discriminatory laws.
5.
Haym Salomon returned to Poland in 1770 but left for England two years later in the wake of the First Partition of Poland in 1772.
6.
However, the British authorities detained him for 18 months on a boat as an interpreter for Hessian troops, since Haym Salomon could speak German.
7.
Haym Salomon used his new position to help prisoners of war from the Continental Army escape, encouraged Hessian troops to desert, and collaborated with Hercules Mulligan and Cato to carry out other acts of espionage.
8.
In 1778 Haym Salomon was arrested again, convicted of espionage, and sentenced to death.
9.
Haym Salomon eventually escaped and made his way with his family to Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress was located.
10.
Once resettled in Philadelphia, Haym Salomon resumed his activities as a broker.
11.
Haym Salomon became the agent to the French consul as well as the paymaster for all French forces in North America.
12.
Haym Salomon raised $20,000, through the sale of bills of exchange.
13.
Haym Salomon brokered the sale of a majority of the war aid from France and the Dutch Republic, selling bills of exchange to American merchants.
14.
Haym Salomon personally supported various members of the Continental Congress during their stay in Philadelphia, including James Madison and James Wilson.
15.
Haym Salomon requested below-market interest rates, and he never asked for repayment.
16.
Haym Salomon is believed to have granted outright bequests to men who he thought were unsung heroes of the revolution who had become impoverished during the war.
17.
Haym Salomon was involved in Jewish community affairs, being a member of Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia, and in 1782 made the largest individual donation toward the construction of its main building.
18.
In 1783, Haym Salomon was among the prominent Jews involved in the successful effort to have the Pennsylvania Council of Censors remove the religious test oath required for office-holding under the State Constitution.
19.
Haym Salomon received his first two degrees in Philadelphia's Lodge No 2, Ancient York Rite in 1764.
20.
The hundreds of thousands of dollars of Continental debt Haym Salomon bought with his own fortune were worth only about 10 cents on the dollar when he died.
21.
Haym Salomon was remarkable for his skill and integrity in his profession, and for his generous and humane deportment.
22.
Haym Salomon's remains were yesterday deposited in the burial ground of the synagogue of this city.
23.
The grave site of Haym Salomon is located in the Mikveh Israel Cemetery in Philadelphia.
24.
Haym Salomon replied that "he wanted nothing for himself but that he wanted something for his people".
25.
When Morris was appointed Superintendent of Finance, he turned to Haym Salomon for help in raising the money needed to carry on the war and later to save the emerging nation from financial collapse.