Joseph Tatnall

Joseph Tatnall (1740–1813) was an American businessman, who was a prominent Quaker merchant, miller, and banker in Wilmington, Delaware.

Early life The only son of Edward and Elizabeth (Pennock) Tatnall, Joseph was born in Wilmington on November 6, 1740. He established a mill on the Brandywine River outside Wilmington, where he helped develop the Brandywine Village, a center of early American industrialization.

During the American Revolution, Tatnall hosted Generals George Washington and Lafayette at his stone mansion at 1803 Market Street, and lent his parlors to General Anthony Wayne to use as a headquarters. He also kept his flour mills "going day and night" to provide food for the Continental Army.

With James Canby (1781–1858), a scion of another prosperous miller, Tatnall rented farm land for grazing and growing hay.

At his death in 1813, Tatnall owned stocks in a wide variety of ventures, including the canal company, Wilmington Insurance Company, The Philadelphia Bank, and "various transportation companies"; and county and government bonds.