author
Robert Waln
1765–1836
A Philadelphia merchant, civic leader, and congressman, he also left behind an early full-length biography of the Marquis de Lafayette. His life connects the worlds of trade, politics, and historical writing in the early United States.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Philadelphia in 1765, Robert Waln built his career in commerce, including overseas trade, and became an active figure in public life. He served in the Pennsylvania legislature, held leadership roles in Philadelphia city government, and represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1798 to 1801.
Waln is also remembered as a writer. He authored a substantial biography of the Marquis de Lafayette, a work that reflects both his interest in public affairs and the transatlantic heroes of the Revolutionary era.
His background in business and politics gives his writing a practical, grounded perspective. For listeners interested in early American history, his work offers a glimpse into how one prominent Philadelphian understood the people and events that shaped the young republic.