Elisha Riggs

Elisha Riggs (June 13, 1779 – August 3, 1853) was an American merchant, soldier and banker who founded the Riggs National Bank. Early life Riggs was born on June 13, 1779, in Brookeville, Maryland. He was a son of Lt. Samuel Riggs (1740–1814), a silversmith, and Amelia ( Dorsey) Riggs (1749–1807). He was a descendant of John Riggs of London who emigrated to the America and married Mary Davis, a daughter of Thomas Davis, one of the original settlers on Herring Creek and who was in the Virginia General Assembly. Career After his education, Riggs moved to Georgetown, DC, where he was employed as a merchant. He fought in the War of 1812 as an ensign in Capt. Thomas Owings's 32nd Regiment of the Militia of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Before that, he had established himself as a dry goods merchant and hired George Peabody as his office boy.