Haym Salomon

Salomon, Haym (1740–85), Polish-born U.S. financier, patriot, founder of the first Philadelphia synagogue. Salomon was active in the Polish independence movement before emigrating to New York in 1772. He was a major financial supporter of the American Revolution, lending large sums of money to the colonial government, giving money outright to equip troops, and making interest-free loans to Thomas Jefferson and other prominent statesmen. He was twice arrested and imprisoned for treason by the British (1776, 1778). Salomon challenged the Pennsylvania rule that civil servants swear belief in the New Testament, a rule that was later changed.