Ann Willing Bingham

Ann (or Anne) Willing Bingham (Aug 1, 1764 – May 11, 1801) was an American socialite from Philadelphia, regarded as one of the most beautiful women of her day. She was the eldest daughter of Thomas Willing, president of the First Bank of the United States, the wife of the wealthy William Bingham, mother-in-law of Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton, and correspondent of Thomas Jefferson among others.

Bingham was also the model for multiple portraits by painter Gilbert Stuart. Legend has it that Bingham is therefore the model for Lady Liberty on the American "Draped bust" coinage (multiple denominations) during the first decade of the 19th century, but this has not been proven.

Gallery

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  Ann Willing Bingham at 21, sketch by Gilbert Stuart, 1785. Ten years later he created the image that U.S. Mint engraver Robert Scot used for his engraving of Ms. Liberty on the Draped Bust coins.

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  2007 Presidential Spouse commemorative gold coin, allegedly portraying Ann Willing Bingham as Lady Liberty.

References

• The Golden Voyage: The Life and Times of William Bingham, 1762-1804 by Robert C. Alberts, Houghton-Mifflin,1969

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