The Banker Who Made America

“With two hundred and fifty years of writing about the American Revolution behind us, what new insights could an author possibly bring to the table? Richard Vague has the answer: a whole heck of a lot! The Banker Who Made America brings an underappreciated American Founder to life through deep research in primary sources, keen historical insights, and engaging prose. You will love it.” R. Scott Stephenson, PhD, President & Chief Executive Officer, Museum of the American Revolution “Thomas Willing’s many interwoven careers – merchant trader, politician, peerless banker – contributed enormously to America’s early history. But what makes Richard Vague’s biography The Banker Who Made America: Thomas Willing and the Rise of the American Financial Aristocracy fascinating is his exploration of the many Revolutionary-era socio/economic/political struggles, in which Willing was deeply involved, and which foreshadow similar polarizing American divisions today.” Pat Toomey, Former United States Senator “Richard Vague’s absolutely engrossing biography of Thomas Willing tells the little-known story of the wealthy Philadelphia merchant banker, whose steady hand helped save the fledgling American republic from financial ruin – first by stabilizing confidence in its currency following the hyperinflation of the War of Independence, and then, as president of its first central bank, the Bank of the United States, by steering it through the speculative booms and busts of those first few years.” Liaquat Ahamed, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Lords of Finance “Willing was present at the creation of so much of our country’s core history yet hasn’t been considered with the depth and clarity Vague brings to this compelling subject. I urge you to read this insightful narrative about how our country’s Revolution was financed and our early Republic sustained.” Chris Coons, United States Senator“the full-length biography of Willing that was missing from our shelves”National Review

Richard Vague is a businessman, banker, and commentator on economics. He is the former Secretary of Banking and Securities for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His previous books include The Case for a Debt Jubilee and The Paradox of Debt.