Benjamin Levy (merchant)

Benjamin Levy (1726–1802) was an American merchant in Philadelphia and Baltimore. During the American Revolutionary War he was one of the officials authorized to sign the bills of credit issued by the Continental Congress, and he is regarded as the only Jewish signer of Continental currency.

Family and early life

Levy was a son of Moses Levy (1665–1728), a prominent merchant and leader of New York's Congregation Shearith Israel. His half-sister was Abigail Franks, wife of the merchant Jacob Franks. Levy married Rachel Levy, daughter of his older half-brother Nathan Levy, a founder of Philadelphia's Jewish community.

Philadelphia

Levy became a merchant in Philadelphia and moved in the city's upper social circles. In 1765 he and his brother Samson Levy signed the Non-Importation Agreement protesting the Stamp Act.

Baltimore and the Revolution

In 1773 Levy moved to Baltimore, where he was the first Jew to settle in the city. He became the most substantial of the small number of Jewish merchants there.

During the Revolution Levy worked with Robert Morris on raising funds for Congress, and in December 1776 he was authorized to sign the bills of credit Congress issued. Congress was then meeting in Baltimore, having left Philadelphia under threat of British occupation, and notes bearing his signature survive, including from the so-called "Baltimore issue" of February 1777.

Death

Levy died in 1802. Although he and his wife had intended to be buried in Philadelphia, both were buried in St. Paul's Cemetery in Baltimore.