William Rawle (1759-1836)

He was born at Philadelphia and received his legal education at the Middle Temple, London. He established what is today the oldest law firm in the United States, Rawle & Henderson LL.P. He was the well-educated and cultured U.S. District Attorney for Pennsylvania and an early philanthropist. A devoted Quaker, he was co-founder and  President of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society. Washington admired him and offered him the post of U.S. Attorney-General but he declined that and all other attmepts to lure him into politics. He had twelve children and lived at the Powel House.