page_title: Stephen Simpson (writer)
section_title: Professional and political career
hierarchical_section_title: Stephen Simpson (writer) / Professional and political career
caption_attribution_description: First Bank of the United States (1797-1811), Stephen Girard’s Bank (May, 1811-1831), subsequent banks, and owned since 1955 by the National Park Service. Location: 116 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
context_page_description: Stephen Simpson was born in Philadelphia, the son of George Simpson, a prominent Philadelphia banker. During the War of 1812 he fought in the Battle of New Orleans under General Andrew Jackson. Through his father's connections Stephen became a cashier at the First Bank of the United States where he soon resigned and went to work at Stephen Girard's bank. Soon after he worked as a writer for a local newspaper where he wrote a series of editorials publicly attacking the First Bank of the United States. He later co-founded the Columbian Observer where he continued his public attacks on this bank.
  Simpson later preferred writing over political pursuits and is also noted for his other works which include a dual biography of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and another biography critical of prominent Philadelphia banker Girard. Simpson's social and political philosophy embraced both conservative and radical ideals.
context_section_description: On returning to civilian life, Simpson along with his brother-in-law Tobias Watkins, founded The Portico ; a Repository of Science and Literature, (1816–1818), a monthly periodical based in Baltimore, where he functioned as the chief editor and proprietor. The monthly journal was formed to publish the members of a small Baltimore literary society the Delphian Club.
  Soon after Simpson began a series of critical columns criticizing the First Bank of the United States which appeared in The Aurora, the voice of the Democratic party in Philadelphia, then published by Colonel William Duane. President Thomas Jefferson credited the Aurora for its ardent support and his subsequent victory in the election of 1800.  In an editorial dated November 8, 1810, twenty reasons were submitted as to why the National Bank's charter should not be renewed. Emphasis was placed on the fact that two-thirds of the bank's stock was owned by foreigners and that the bank answered largely to British interests.
  To avoid arrest Simpson's controversial articles were anonymously signed "Brutus", and subsequently attracted much attention and curiosity. The columns were bold, candid and openly hostile attacks upon the management of the Bank, exposing its policy and various practices in intimate detail. To conceal his identity Simpson's letters were secretly dropped at a designated place, where a boy was sent to receive and deliver them to the office of The Aurora where they would soon appear in print. No one at the Columbian Observer was aware of any connection with Simpson and the newspaper, save perhaps its editor. Public curiosity grew resulting in speculations everywhere. In his book The lives of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, 1833, Simpson continued his criticism of the bank, claiming, among other things, that it was "the chief cause of Jefferson's growing dislike of Washington", who supported it, and the "sole" reason why Jefferson hated Alexander Hamilton.
  Simpson then worked as a journalist on a local newspaper where he wrote a series of editorials publicly attacking the management of the U.S. bank along with its policy and transactions.
  In 1822, Simpson and associate John Conrad founded the Columbian Observer (1822–1825), a newspaper whose publication and management was given to Jesper Harding. Through the Observer Simpson continued his letters of " Brutus" criticizing the U.S. Bank. His style of writing along with his frank and openly hostile manner were once again evident, no different than in his former articles. Simpson made no further attempt to conceal the fact that 'Stephen Simpson' was indeed the author of the original articles published by The Aurora. Once again public curiosity grew. Through the Observer Simpson also voiced his support for the policies of Andrew Jackson. Even before Jackson was nominated a presidential candidate by the Tennessee legislature, Simpson, along with Stephen Duane, editor of the Aurora, had already begun lending their support for Jackson as a presidential candidate. Some historians have assumed Simpson's support of General Jackson was based on their mutual distrust of banks, as well as his admiration for a man and a general which he served under during the War of 1812. Simpson considered Jackson to be the greatest man in America.
  Simpson along with Robert Dale Owen was a party leader and political candidate of The Philadelphia Party, also known as the Working Men's Party (1828–1831). Simpson and Owen embraced some of the radical social principles of Thomas Jefferson regarding banks, believing that labor created all wealth and that inequality was caused by excessive ownership of private property and other monopolies. By 1800 most people who worked at common trades, on farms or did other common labor preferred the party of Jefferson and James Madison over the party of Washington and Alexander Hamilton. In the Jacksonian period, Working Men's parties arose including associations of farmers, factory workers and city mechanics. Trade unions consisted of skilled artisans organized in their respective craft s
caption: First Bank of the United States (1797–1811); Building later used by Girard Bank where Simpson was employed as a note clerk also
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