He was the Warren Buffett of his time. His name was Stephen Girard, and like Buffett (famous for his immense wealth, financial acumen, and philanthropy), Girard was a disciplined investor who built his fortune through shipping, banking, and real estate deals in the 18th century. When he died of pneumonia in 1831, Girard was the richest man in America and left behind a legacy of extraordinary philanthropy and civic impact: he endowed Girard College, a first-of-its-kind school for orphans (still in operation today), and made the largest private charitable donation in American history up to that time. His will also provided for hospitals, public services, and numerous charitable institutions, ensuring that his wealth would benefit the most vulnerable and improve the city of Philadelphia for generations.

And he helped fund the War of 1812.

For those who no longer recall middle school history, the War of 1812 was between the United States and Great Britain. The “CliffsNotes” version is that Britain was fighting France and didn’t want the United States to trade with them. It was bad enough that British ships were blocking American ships from going to French ports, but when they started seizing American sailors from those ships and forcing them to work for the British Navy, that was a step too far.

In the end, neither side won the War of 1812. After two and a half years of fighting, both sides were exhausted. The economies of both countries were struggling, and neither country won a decisive victory. While it’s true that British forces captured Washington, D.C., in 1814, America had victories at Baltimore and Plattsburgh that invigorated American morale and made further British advances difficult. Both countries realized that continuing the war would likely end in a stalemate, and at great cost to each side. When the war was officially ended with the Treaty of Ghent, signed on December 24, 1814, everything went back to the way it had been before the war.

Girard had done his patriotic duty by preventing the collapse of the U.S. government’s finances at a critical moment in the war. He stepped in with his personal fortune and purchased millions of dollars in government bonds, effectively making the Treasury solvent again after it ran out of money in 1813. His capital enabled the government to pay its soldiers, buy supplies, and sustain the war effort. Without his help, the United States might have been forced to surrender or face recolonization.

Our interest in Stephen Girard rests in his placement of Newfoundland dogs on each of his trading ships to “keep the sailors company,” according to Philadelphia Magazine. It’s reported that critics of the war, or maybe just Girard himself, said he did it because the dogs were cheaper than watchmen. Girard, it’s said, always had a big, shaggy pup with him in his yellow driving gig. Given that over Girard’s 40-year shipping career he owned at least 15 named vessels, and each ship carried one Newfoundland, he had to have supplied dozens of Newfoundlands over decades—dogs he likely purchased in Philadelphia as needed. There is no evidence to suggest that Girard bred the dogs, and each Newf probably lived aboard his or her assigned vessel full-time.

Admittedly, we couldn’t find other sources to support Philadelphia Magazine’s claim, but there is strong historical evidence that Newfoundland dogs were commonly carried on ships during the 18th and early 19th centuries, so the anecdote is believable. The dogs were prized for their strength, swimming ability, and loyalty, and often helped with retrieving ropes, hauling nets, and rescuing men who fell overboard. The story also adds a personal dimension to Girard’s legacy.