Thomas Clinton
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Clinton was a businessman and religious leader instrumental in the formation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
.
, where his father James Clinton worked as an attorney. In 1924, when Clinton was six years old, his father joined the United States Foreign Service
and the family moved frequently. Clinton's father was first posted in Paris
until 1928, and Clinton learned to speak excellent French. Next, the family moved to Vienna
where it remained until 1931, and Clinton learned to speak German and experienced the German culture.
After Austria, the family moved to Germany, where Clinton witnessed firsthand the rise of Nazism. His father would stay in Berlin until 1936, but in 1932 Thomas returned to the United States where he attended high school at the Phillips Exeter Academy
, graduating in 1936. Clinton then enrolled at Princeton University
where he studied languages and political science. He graduated in 1940, and entered the University of Pennsylvania Law School
.
, though he did not receive a degree. In March 1946, he took a job with Barclays Bank, working at its London headquarters until 1948.
In 1948, Clinton moved to Cuba, where he worked in the import-export business, rapidly becoming quite wealthy. In 1956, Clinton left Cuba and returned to his native Philadelphia, where along with his associate Mark Craig, he established the import-export firm Clinton, Craig, and Associates, focusing on agricultural products. Clinton also became active in business and political circles, and was appointed to the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
in 1959 and the Board of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange
in 1961.
. In 1966, he was chosen to lead the bank's operations in the United Kingdom. While at Deutsche Bank, Clinton, as a former military intelligence officer, was suspected of involvement with the CIA. In 1970, after an unexplained absence from work of three weeks, he was asked to resign, and decided to retire.
. In 1974, he donated $15 million dollars to the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
for its library, helping it to establish one of the largest theological libraries in the country.
Clinton also became a major advocate of the merger of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the southern Presbyterian Church in the United States
, and traveled frequently speaking with church leaders and members to promote unification. In 1977, he donated $5 million to the southern Columbia Theological Seminary
on the condition that it be used "for the study of the unification of the Presbyterian church." His financial support and persistent advocacy helped to convince many in the North and South that a merger would benefit both churches.
Clinton died on August 8, 1981, leaving most of his remaining money to a variety of Presbyterian seminaries and universities. His dream of a unified Presbyterian church was realized less than two years after his death with the creation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
on June 10, 1983. In the ceremonies surrounding the merger, Clinton was frequently recognized as one of the fathers of the unified church.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
.
Early life
Clinton was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, where his father James Clinton worked as an attorney. In 1924, when Clinton was six years old, his father joined the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
and the family moved frequently. Clinton's father was first posted in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
until 1928, and Clinton learned to speak excellent French. Next, the family moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
where it remained until 1931, and Clinton learned to speak German and experienced the German culture.
After Austria, the family moved to Germany, where Clinton witnessed firsthand the rise of Nazism. His father would stay in Berlin until 1936, but in 1932 Thomas returned to the United States where he attended high school at the Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
, graduating in 1936. Clinton then enrolled at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
where he studied languages and political science. He graduated in 1940, and entered the University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Law School, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Ivy League, it is among the oldest and most selective law schools in the nation. It is currently ranked 7th overall by U.S. News & World Report,...
.
World War II
After Pearl Harbor, Clinton a determined patriot decided to join the military to serve his country. He completed the fall semester at Penn, then dropped out to complete training to become an officer in the Army. He was commissioned in August 1942, and due to his excellent language skills, was assigned to intelligence work, initially in Washington, DC. Then, in 1944, he was sent to London to join the staff of General Dwight Eisenhower, remaining in London in various administrative and intelligence positions until the end of the war.Early business career
After the war, Clinton remained in London for a year, studying business and economics at the London School of EconomicsLondon School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, though he did not receive a degree. In March 1946, he took a job with Barclays Bank, working at its London headquarters until 1948.
In 1948, Clinton moved to Cuba, where he worked in the import-export business, rapidly becoming quite wealthy. In 1956, Clinton left Cuba and returned to his native Philadelphia, where along with his associate Mark Craig, he established the import-export firm Clinton, Craig, and Associates, focusing on agricultural products. Clinton also became active in business and political circles, and was appointed to the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is responsible for the Third District of the Federal Reserve, which covers eastern Pennsylvania, the 9 southern counties of New Jersey, and Delaware...
in 1959 and the Board of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange
Philadelphia Stock Exchange
Philadelphia Stock Exchange , now known as NASDAQ OMX PHLX, is the oldest stock exchange in the United States, founded in 1790. It is now owned by NASDAQ OMX and located at 1900 Market Street, in Center City Philadelphia.-History:...
in 1961.
Later business career
In 1963, Clinton sold his share in Clinton, Craig and Associates to Craig and three of the firm's associates, and moved to Frankfurt, Germany to become an executive of Deutsche BankDeutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank AG is a global financial service company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. It employs more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets...
. In 1966, he was chosen to lead the bank's operations in the United Kingdom. While at Deutsche Bank, Clinton, as a former military intelligence officer, was suspected of involvement with the CIA. In 1970, after an unexplained absence from work of three weeks, he was asked to resign, and decided to retire.
Retirement
After his years in banking and trade, Clinton had become extremely wealthy, and he retired to a large estate outside Pittsburgh. In retirement, Clinton became an important lay leader in the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of AmericaUnited Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
The United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was the largest branch of Presbyterianism in the United States from May 28, 1958 to 1983...
. In 1974, he donated $15 million dollars to the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, founded in 1794, is a graduate theological institution associated with the Presbyterian Church USA. It is located in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and houses one of the largest theological libraries in the nation...
for its library, helping it to establish one of the largest theological libraries in the country.
Clinton also became a major advocate of the merger of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the southern Presbyterian Church in the United States
Presbyterian Church in the United States
The Presbyterian Church in the United States was a Protestant Christian denomination in the Southern and border states of the United States that existed from 1861 to 1983...
, and traveled frequently speaking with church leaders and members to promote unification. In 1977, he donated $5 million to the southern Columbia Theological Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary is one of the ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . It is located in Decatur, Georgia. Dr. Stephen A. Hayner is the seminary's president.-Description:...
on the condition that it be used "for the study of the unification of the Presbyterian church." His financial support and persistent advocacy helped to convince many in the North and South that a merger would benefit both churches.
Clinton died on August 8, 1981, leaving most of his remaining money to a variety of Presbyterian seminaries and universities. His dream of a unified Presbyterian church was realized less than two years after his death with the creation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
on June 10, 1983. In the ceremonies surrounding the merger, Clinton was frequently recognized as one of the fathers of the unified church.