Lewis Tappan in Abolitionists
Lewis Tappan (1788-1873) was an abolitionist, philanthropist, and activist who ran a very profitable dry goods business with his bro/partner, Arthur, in the Big Apple.
Thankfully, Lewis and his brother chose to use their money for good.
Lewis formed the Friend of Amistad Africans (or simply the "Amistad") Committee in the fall of 1839, which supported the case of the African slaves who rebelled aboard a ship off of Cuba and steered their way into American waters.
He also became a delegate to the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London in 1843 and had founded the predecessor of Dun and Bradstreet, a business that rates commercial credit, in 1841. But he actually retired from business in 1849 to devote himself entirely to the abolitionism and other humanitarian causes.