Girard, Stephen

je-rard', Stephen (1750-1831), the founder of Girard College, Philadelphia. He was a native of Bordeaux, France. In 1769 he came to Philadelphia. He formed a partnership with a brother and engaged in the West India trade, largely rum and molasses. He was one of the stockholders in the United States Bank. When Jackson removed the deposits the bank kept on in business under the name of Girard Bank. Girard was an eccentric man, gruff and hot-tempered, but in time of public trouble, as yellow fever epidemic, he was kindly, open handed, and regardless of personal exposure. He left $5,000,000 to found a school for poor white boys. This school, known as Girard College, now has $16,000,000 worth of property and an income of $1,000,000 a year. There are sixty-seven instructors and 1,700 students. By a singular provision of the will, no clergyman of any sect whatever is to have any connection with the college. Negroes, also, are forever excluded from the college.