Stephen Gerard was born of French parents, at Bordeaux, the 21st of May, 1750, and his home—­owing to his mother’s place having soon been filled by a step-mother—­appears to have left no pleasant reminiscences.  At fourteen years of age he took to the sea.  Subsequently, as master and part owner of a small vessel, he arrived, in the year 1777, at Philadelphia for the first time, and commenced business as a merchant; but it appears that in 1786, he took command of one of his own vessels, leaving the management of his mercantile house to his brother.  Returning in 1788, he dissolved partnership with his brother, and bade a final adieu to the sea.  In the year 1793, the yellow fever raged with fury at Philadelphia; as the ravage increased, the people fled aghast.  A hospital was organized at Bush Hill, in the neighbourhood, but all was confusion, for none could be found to face the dreaded enemy, till Stephen Gerard and Peter Helm boldly volunteered their services at the risk of their lives.  Stephen Gerard was married, but his wife was consigned to an asylum in 1790, after various ineffectual efforts for her cure; there she remained till her death, in 1815.  His mercantile pursuits prospered in every direction, and he soon became one of the most wealthy and influential men in the community; he was possessed of a vigorous constitution, and was extremely regular and abstemious in his habits.  In 1830 he was knocked down by a passing vehicle as he was crossing the street; by this accident he was severely injured in the head, from which he was slowly recovering, when, in 1831, he was seized with violent influenza, and ultimately pneumonia, of which he died, the 26th of December, aged eighty-one.

His character appears to have been a curious compound.  The assiduity with which he amassed wealth, coupled with his abstemious habits, and his old knee-breeches patched all over—­and still to be seen in the college—­strongly bespoke the miser; while his contributions to public works, and his liberal transactions in money matters, led to an opposite conclusion; and from his noble conduct during the yellow fever it is reasonable to infer he was a humane man.  I do not wish to judge people uncharitably, but, I must say, I can allow but little credit to a man who legacies the bulk of his fortune away from his relations when he can no longer enjoy it himself.  Mr. Gerard had very many relatives; let us see how he provided for them.  The resume of his will may be thus stated:  he died worth 1,500,000l., and thus disposes of it:—­

  Erection and endowment of college L400,000
  Different institutions of charity 23,200
  To his relatives and next of kin 28,000
  City of Philadelphia, for improvements 100,000
  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for
    internal improvements 60,000
  Sundry friends, &c. 13,000

The residue left to the city of Philadelphia, for improvement and maintenance of his college, the establishment of better police, and to improve the city and diminish taxation.  Thus, out of a fortune of one million and a half, he leaves his relatives 28,000l.  Charity, in this instance, can scarcely be said to have begun at home.