Samuel Howell (March 11, 1723 – December 9, 1807) was a Quaker who became a prominent merchant in colonial Philadelphia and a leading patriot, proponent, leader and financier for American independence. A Quaker, Samuel was disowned by his meeting on 12 September 1762 for "fitting out his ships in a warlike manner"; his wife was disowned four years later. He was drawn into the political life of pre-Revolutionary Philadelphia. Howell gave his family's silver to make the first U. S. Currency. In his six-page Will, recorded in Philadelphia Will Book Z, at pp 210–213