GIRARD, STErtrEN, 1750-1831; was b. at Bordeaux, France. At the age of 13 he commenced life as a sailor, and followed his avocation with such assiduity that he was enabled, before the French requisitions of age and service allowed, to become master and capt. in Oct., 1773. His first mercantile venture was to San Domingo in 1774,. whence he proceeded in July to the then colony of New York. After trading for three years between New York, New Orleans, and Port au Prince, he went to Philadelphia. in May, 1777, and gave up the sea for a mercantile career. While he was most successfully in the prosecution of an extensive trade, the yellow fever in its. most malignant type broke out in Philadelphia, sweeping away one-sixth of its pop ulation. When, during its height, a hospital was established, for which it seemed_ almost impossible to secure competent management, Girard devoted himself personally. fearless of all risks, to the care of the sick and the burial of the dead, not only in the hospital, of which he became manager, but throughout the city, supplying the poorer sufferers with money and provisions. Two hundred children made orphans by the
ravages of the fever, were in a great measure thrown on his care. From this period his success commercially and financially was unexampled. He gave a portion of his time to the management of municipal affairs for several years, and rendered efficient. service as warden of the.port and as director of many public institutions. On the dis solution of the bank of the United States he instituted what is known as the Girard bank. During the war of 1812, "he rendered valuable services to the government by placing at its disposal the resources of his bank, at a time of difficulty and embarrass ment subscribing to a large loan which the had vainly sought to obtain."' Girard added to his other avocations that of a practical agriculturist. He is remembered for his magnificent bequest, the foundation of Girard college (q. v.).