born May 22, 1786, Northampton, Mass., U.S.
died July 23, 1865, New Haven, Conn.
U.S. merchant and philanthropist.
He operated various businesses, including a silk-importing firm in New York (182637) with his brother Lewis Tappan (17881873); they also founded the first commercial credit-rating service (1841). He used his wealth to support missionary societies and the abolitionist crusade, helping found the American Anti-Slavery Society and serving as its first president (183340). After breaking with William Lloyd Garrison , he created the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society (1840). The Tappan brothers later supported the Underground Railroad .