Background
John Maxwell Nesbitt was born about 1730 in Loughbrickland, County Down, Ireland. He was the son of Jonathan Nesbitt and his wife, whose maiden name was Lang. He emigrated to Philadelphia in 1747.
John Maxwell Nesbitt was born about 1730 in Loughbrickland, County Down, Ireland. He was the son of Jonathan Nesbitt and his wife, whose maiden name was Lang. He emigrated to Philadelphia in 1747.
John was apprenticed by his uncle, Alexander Lang, to Redmond Conyngham, a distant relative, to learn the shipping trade.
Nesbitt took a prominent part among the citizens of Philadelphia during the Revolution. He was appointed a member of the Committee of Correspondence, May 20, 1774, paymaster of the state navy, September 14, 1775; treasurer of the Council of Safety, July 27, 1776, by virtue of which he was treasurer of the state navy board, and treasurer of the state board of war for land service.
When the Pennsylvania Bank was organized in 1780 to supply the Continental Army with provisions his firm subscribed five thousand pounds sterling to its funds and he acted as one of the first five inspectors for the bank. He was one of those who cooperated most generously with Robert Morris in the latter's efforts to sustain the public credit and provide for the continuance of the Revolution.
In March 1776 Nesbitt was elected a member of the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, and remained an active member of this organization during the Revolution, serving principally in its New Jersey campaign. On his resignation he was made an honorary member of the troop, September 10, 1787.
When the Bank of North America was organized in November 1781 he was made one of the directors and continued in that capacity until January 9, 1792. He served on the organization committee of the Insurance Company of North America, and upon completion of its organization, December 10, 1792, was chosen as its first president, a position he held until January 13, 1796. He served as one of the wardens for the Port of Philadelphia in 1788 and as an alderman in 1790.
In 1793 he was a member of the committee of merchants which collected information regarding the capture or detention of vessels belonging to citizens of the United States by cruisers of European nations then at war. He wrote the report of this committee and was one of those who laid it before the president of the United States.
Nesbitt was one of the original members of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, serving first as vice-president of the society (1771 - 73) and later as president (1773-74, 1782 - 96).
He died in Philadelphia.
Nesbitt was never married.