Paul Tulane (May, 1801 – March 27, 1887), an American philanthropist, was born near Princeton, New Jersey, son of a French immigrant. He received a common school education, and in 1818 he went to New Orleans, opened a store for general merchandise, and by 1828 he had amassed a fortune of over $150,000. This business he continued to carry on for nearly 40 years, engaging at the same time in cotton and real estate speculations, and in 1857 he retired with a large fortune. About this time he bought the Stockton place at Princeton, where he subsequently resided.

For many years he gave liberally to the charitable institutions of Princeton and New Orleans. In 1882 he donated $363,000 (1882 value) to improve higher education in the city of New Orleans. Tulane's Act of Donation ultimately resulted in the founding of Tulane University. He died near Princeton, New Jersey.

References

• Text incorporated from Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921).