Ann Willing Bingham

Who was Ann Willing Bingham?

Ann Willing Bingham 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 was therefore the model for Lady Liberty on the American "Draped bust" coinage during the first decade of the 19th century, but this has not been proven.