Ann (or Anne) Willing Bingham (August 1, 1764 – May 11, 1801) was an American socialite from Philadelphia, regarded as one of the most beautiful women of her day.[by whom?]
She was the eldest daughter of thirteen children born to Anne (née McCall) Willing and Thomas Willing, the first president of the First Bank of the United States.
Her paternal grandparents were Charles Willing, who twice served as mayor of Philadelphia, and Anne (née Shippen) Willing (a granddaughter of Edward Shippen, who was the second mayor of Philadelphia). Her uncle, James Willing, was a Philadelphia merchant who later served as a representative of the Continental Congress. Her maternal grandparents were Samuel McCall and Anne (née Searle) McCall.
She corresponded, among others, with President Thomas Jefferson, whose letters reportedly led Jefferson to the construct of the United States Bill of Rights. Through many letters, she convinced Jefferson that the Constitution would not last and the individual citizens would have their rights impeded from the interests of the majority. Jefferson was finally convinced and in turn presented her ideas to James Madison (may not have used her name due to the nature of the ideas origin) and Madison agreed to the proposal. Madison then proposed the Individual Bill of Rights and Bingham's ideas were adopted by Congress.
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 (multiple denominations) during the first decade of the 19th century, but this has not been proven.
Ann was married to wealthy William Bingham, a United States Senator from Pennsylvania. By the end of the American Revolution, he was regarded as one of the richest men in Pennsylvania, having made his fortune through trading and ownership of privateers. Together, they were the parents of two daughters and a son, including:
Bingham was ill and left for Madeira, but died en route in Bermuda, where she is buried in the Saint Peters Church Graveyard. Her husband continued to Europe and died in England in 1804.
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