Samuel Ward

Samuel Ward III (May 1, 1786 — November 27, 1839) was an American banker. Early life Samuel Ward III was born in Rhode Island on May 1, 1786. He was the son of Samuel Ward Jr. (1756–1832) and Phebe Greene. His paternal grandparents were Samuel Ward Sr. (1725–1776) and Anne Ray. His maternal grandparents were William Greene (1731–1809) and Catharine Ray. Career After his education he entered a banking house as a clerk, and in 1808 was taken into partnership, continuing as a member of the firm of Prime, Ward & King until his death. In 1838, he secured through the Bank of England a loan of nearly $5,000,000 to enable the banks to resume specie payments, and established the Bank of Commerce, becoming its president. He was a founder of the University of the City of New York (now New York University) and of the New York Temperance Society, of which he was the first president, and was active in organizing mission churches. He was a patron of many charities and the giver of large sums in aid of Protestant Episcopal Churches and colleges in the west.