My Wish Lists Login / Join

Stephen Girard

Name: Stephen Girard
Price: 163.75 AUD
Availability: PreOrder

Captain of American Enterprise and Philanthropy

By: Alexander Lawrence Ames

Write A Review

Paperback | 11 November 2026 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Format
Paperback

Dimensions(cm)
22.9 x 15.2

Paperback

$163.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $40.94 with

Available: 11th November 2026

Preorder. Will ship when available.

This book is the first systematic scholarly analysis of Stephen Girardâs views on race, gender, class, and enslavement, connecting the details of Girardâs life with litigation surrounding his estate and school.

By the time Girard died, the merchant-banker was one of the wealthiest men in the United States. He shocked the people of his adopted city and nation by posthumously devoting his fortune to philanthropic projectsâ"most notably the construction of a charity school for White orphan boys. For nearly two hundred years, Girardâs name has been mired in controversy because of his last will and testament, which became the centerpiece of numerous legal battles. With narrative sophistication and probing analysis, this book combines a succinct overview of Girardâs life with much-needed context for making sense of his decisions and legacy. In doing so it further addresses controversial topics in the modern U.S. public sphereâ"freedom of religion, institutional racism, gender equality, the relationship of private philanthropy to the public goodâ"directing the reader to reconsider the health of American republican institutions in the twenty-first century in the light of Girardâs history and legacies.

Augmented by many historical images and primary-source documents, including the text of his much-debated last will and Supreme Court arguments about his philanthropy, the book is an ideal resource for students and scholars of American history, Atlantic world studies, legal history, history of education, and history of philanthropy.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.