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Mr. Girard's legacy by the founding of GIRARD COLLEGE continues with the opportunity provided to approximately 750 young men and women who benefit by the programs provided by this outstanding institution. Today ninety percent of the funding for Girard College is supported by the revenues generated by the investment, real estate and mining operations of Girard Estate. The remaining ten percent is provided by other sources. Merchant, Mariner, Banker, Humanitarian 1750 - Born near Bordeaux, France, May 20th 1776 - Arrived in Philadelphia aboard "L'Aimable Louis" 1777 - Married to Mary Lum, June 6th 1778 - Became citizen of the United States, October 27th 1791 - Birth and death of only child, Mary Girard 1793 - Superintended City Hospital at Bush Hill during yellow fever epidemic 1802 - Elected to Select Councils, October 12th 1807 - Purchase block bounded by 11th, 12th, Market And Chestnut Streets, July 1st (Originally intended to be the site of Girard College) 1812 - Purchased property U. S. Bank, June 24th 1813 - Major subscriber to U.S. Bonds in support of War of 1812. 1815 - Death of Mary Lum Girard, September 13th 1816 - Appointed Director, Second U.S. Bank 1831 - Purchased Peel Hall Farm, site of Girard College, June 6th 1831 - Died December 26, aged 81 years 7 months 1851 - Reinterred Girard College,
September, 30th Suggested Reading Stephen Girard, America's
First Tycoon Stephen Girard, Founder Life and Times of Stephen Girard (2 Vols.) McMaster, John Bach c 1918 
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The largest trust left to the City of
Philadelphia is the one created by Stephen Girard,
By his will, dated 1830, he bequeathed to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania $300,000 and to the
City of Philadelphia, cash and real estate
amounting to over $6,000,000. Mr. Girard was a
mariner, merchant, banker and humanitarian. Never
before had a private citizen of the United States
bequeathed so vast a sum for the public good. Mr.
Girard's will is extremely detailed and lengthy; it
contains bequests for manly individuals,
organizations and purposes; however, the bulk of
his estate was for the establishment of " a
permanent College, with suitable out-buildings,
sufficiently spacious for the residence and
accommodation of at least three hundred scholars
and the requisite teachers and other persons
necessary in such an institution".