The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, or The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland, was founded in Philadelphia on March 17, 1771. Some of the most influential men of the time were involved in the foundation of the Friendly Sons. Stephen Moylan was born to a prominent Catholic family in Cork, Ireland. His family sent him to be educated in Paris. He settled in Philadelphia in 1768 to organize his own shipping firm. He was one of the organizers of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, an Irish-American fraternal organization, and served as its first president. Despite the religious and anti Irish sentiment of the era, the Friendly Sons was conceived as a non-denominational organization, open to all religious affiliations.The society was formed in Philadelphia on March 17, 1771, which at that time was “the focus of every political and diplomatic movement, the Capitol of the nation, where Independence was declared, national conventions and Congress met, the seat of the confederated Federal and State Governments, the residence of the Foreign Ambassadors and ministers, and occasionally the theatre of war,” as Samuel Hood wrote in 1844 in A Brief Account of the Society of the Friendly Sons.Early influential members include John Dickinson, Robert Morris, Thomas Fitzsimons, Generals Wayne, Irvine, Butler, Thompson, Hand, Cadwalader, Moylan, Knox, and Stewart, Commodore Barry and numerous others, distinguished in the Army, Navy, Cabinet, and Congress,General George Washington was inducted as an honorary member as thanks for his support for the organization. This is his response:"I accept with singular pleasure, the ensign of so worthy a fraternity as that of the Sons of St. Patrick in this City – A society distinguished for the firm adherence of its members to the glorious cause in which we are embarked." General George Washington - Honorary Member 1782During the organization’s rich 240- year history the group has supported many noble causes. From providing aid during the great potato famine to providing for scholarships for students to further their education, the Friendly Sons has been a philanthropic organization.