Isaiah Vansant Williamson (February 4, 1803 – March 7, 1889), commonly known as I. V. Williamson, was an American merchant and philanthropist from Pennsylvania.
I. V. Williamson | |
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| Born | February 4, 1803 |
| Died | March 7, 1889 (aged 86) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Merchant |
| Known for | Philanthropy |
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Early life edit
Williamson was born in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, on February 4, 1803, to Mahlon and Charity (Vansant) Williamson and in 1807 moved with his family to Fallsington. There he attended the Friends' School and worked on his family's farm.[1] He became apprenticed to Harvey Gillingham at Gillingham Store in the center of Fallsington for six or seven years. In this position, he traveled to the surrounding communities and Philadelphia, where he learned the trade of buying and selling various goods. In 1825, he moved to Philadelphia and got a position as a salesman there.[1]
Career edit
Saving and investing his earnings, he eventually became partner in Williamson, Burroughs & Co. selling dry-goods to local shops, where he made a large amount of his fortune.[2]
Philanthropies edit
Williamson was known for his philanthropy, though due to the way he dressed and walked through the city, he was sometimes referred to as the "threadbare philanthropist."[1] Also, it has been difficult to determine how much Williamson gave because most of his donations were made anonymously under the pseudonym “Hez.” [3] His large sums of money went to hospitals, including the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in the 1870s and founding the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades with $5,000,000, December 1, 1888, a gift "larger than the entire endowment of Harvard, Yale or Columbia."[1]: 116 [4][5][2]
Death edit
Isaiah V. Williamson died in Philadelphia on March 7, 1889, due to aortic valvular disease.[1][6]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e John Wanamaker (1928). . Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company – via Wikisource.
- ^ a b Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1900). . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.
- ^ Levenick, Christopher. "Philanthropy Hall of Fame". Almanac of American Philanthropy. Philanthropy Roundtable. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ^ Chamberlain, Joshua Lawrence (1901). University of Pennsylvania: its history, influence, equipment and characteristics; with biographical sketches and portraits of founders, benefactrors, officers and alumni. Boston: R. Herndon Company.
- ^ "A Brief History of the Williamson School". About Williamson. Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
- ^ "Death certificate: Isaiah V. Williamson". City of Philadelphia.
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