His father was a wealthy textile merchant. It appears to be closely related to early merchant banking activities. He embarked on a program of building merchant ships larger than heretofore. Pure Land attracted the merchant and farmer classes. He began work as a clerk for a tea merchant. It was founded by , the daughter of a wealthy merchant named . Another irritant was the suspected presence of British deserters aboard US merchant and naval vessels. Costco was the last major U.S. merchant that accepted American Express cards exclusively. Shields lost one of the largest proportions of Merchant Navy sailors. A wealthy Boston merchant and Johnny's great-uncle. They often relied upon senior officials from the noble and merchant classes. She was the daughter of a prosperous merchant. Importance of merchant and financial classes declined. He went to Tangier, where he stayed with Francesco Carpanetto, a wealthy Italian merchant. He particularly favored the associates of the great French merchant Jacques Coeur.