Riggs, Elisha (1779-1853)
Dates
- Existence: 1779-06-13 - 1853-08-03
Biography
Elisha Riggs was a prominent merchant and banker in the D.C. and New York areas in the 19th century. Born in 1779 in Maryland, he went into the dry goods business and entered into partnership to form the Riggs, Peabody & Co, which specialized in importing goods from Britain. Riggs also later succeeded in banking and helped to finance the Riggs National Bank, which his son George co-founded. Riggs National Bank became a premier institution where over twenty U.S. Presidents banked at, with enough assets to loan money to the U.S. government during the Mexican-American War. Although geographically operating in the Northeast states, Riggs had national influence through his merchant and banking enterprises. Riggs died in 1853.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Elisha Riggs Banking Collection
This collection contains 4 business letters from 1842 sent to Elisha Riggs, a prominent businessman and banker in New York known for founding the Riggs National Bank. The letters are sent from local St. Louis merchants, business agents, and attorneys communicating with Riggs on matters related to banking, credit, and business in the local area.