James McAlpin

McAlpin and his wife Ann lived at 3 South Fourth Street in the district of Southwark, Philadelphia, in an area now known as Fabric Row. They had one son.^[7]

He began serving as President Washington's personal tailor beginning in the 1790s.^[8][9][10] City directories list McAlpin as a merchant tailor until approximately 1817, and from 1818 onward he is listed as a gentleman.^[11]

McAplin had various business and philanthropic interests in Philadelphia.^[12] He was a founding board member of the Franklin Institute in the 1820s, also serving on the committee overseeing the construction of the building.^[13] McAlpin was a trustee of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, established in February 1822. He was also a longtime member of the Saint Andrew's Society of Philadelphia (including serving as president from 1831 to 1838).^[14][15]

McAlpin died on July 20, 1847, aged 85.^[14] He is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery.^[16] His estate was settled in April 1849.^[17]

His business and personal correspondence with Washington is well-documented in the Papers of George Washington and the George Washington Presidential Library.^{[18][19][20][21]}

Personal affects belonging to McAplin and his family are in the permanent collection of the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library.^[11]