Martin Bickham

Martin Bickham (born c. 1780) was an American merchant.

Personal life Bickham was born in New Jersey in approximately 1780, his family originated in Chester, England, and had emigrated to the Philadelphia region in the late 17th century. His elder sister, Sally Bickham, became mistress to merchant Stephen Girard in 1787, after his wife was committed to an insane asylum. Martin was looked after by Girard, almost as a surrogate son, and he was taught the merchant's business from the age of fourteen. Girard financially supported Martin and Sally's father, Caleb Bickham, until his death in 1799. Sally left Girard amicably in 1796 to marry. In 1799 he took the Sally II to Manila, Philippines under Girard's order to trade for sugar and indigo. On 2 October 1805 he married Eugenie Rivalz in Mauritius. Bickham served as US Consul to Île de France from 1816 to 1825, when he returned to the United States. Stephen Bickham later became a successful merchant in his own right. Martin Bickham also had a daughter, LaDorie, who married the Comte DuPont and had one son, Arthur DuPont. After the deaths of the Comte and LaDorie, Martin and Stephan Bickham became the managers of the DuPont estate in the United States. The Girard College (founded by Stephen Girard) also holds an archive of documents relating to Bickham, including letters between Bickham and Girard.