Joseph Tatnall
Joseph Tatnall | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1740-11-06 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
| Died | 1813 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, mill operator, financier |
| Known for | President of the National Bank of Delaware; president of Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company; milling operations on Brandywine River |
Joseph Tatnall (1740–1813) was a notable American entrepreneur, influential Quaker trader, mill operator, and financier based in Wilmington, Delaware.
Early life
Joseph Tatnall was born on November 6, 1740, in Wilmington to Edward and Elizabeth (Pennock) Tatnall. He established a milling operation on the Brandywine River, contributing significantly to the growth of Brandywine Village, one of the early industrial centers in America.
Throughout the Revolutionary War, Tatnall accommodated Generals George Washington and Lafayette at his residence on Market Street and provided facilities for General Anthony Wayne's command post. He ensured his flour mills remained operational without interruption to support the Continental Army’s needs.
Professional career
In 1795, Tatnall was appointed as the inaugural president of the National Bank of Delaware, an institution that maintained its independence until 1929.
Together with James Canby, he leased agricultural land utilized for livestock grazing and hay cultivation. In 1802, Tatnall assumed the presidency of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company, which aimed to connect the Delaware River near Philadelphia with Chesapeake Bay to improve grain transportation from Maryland to Brandywine mills. Although this company eventually dissolved, a successor completed the canal project in 1829.
Tatnall also participated in maritime enterprises alongside Joseph Shallcross, owning vessels such as the brig Nancy (1775) and the sloop Sally (1801).
On January 31, 1765, he married Elizabeth Lea; they had nine children together. Their daughter Sarah wed miller Thomas Lea, and their grandson Preston Lea later served as Governor of Delaware from 1905 to 1908. Another son, Edward Tatnall, played a role in founding the Delaware and Maryland Rail Road Company; Edward’s grandson Henry Tatnall became the first professionally trained vice president of finance at the Pennsylvania Railroad.
At the time of his passing in 1813, Tatnall held shares in various enterprises including the canal company, Wilmington Insurance Company, Philadelphia Bank, multiple transportation firms, and government securities.
External links
- Map showing locations of Tatnall's mills and others along the Brandywine River