The immediate relatives of Albert Gallatin were concerned in trade.

Abraham, his grandfather, and Jean, his father, were partners.

The latter dying in 1765, his widow assumed his share in the business.

She died in March, 1770, leaving two children,--Albert, then nine years of age, and an invalid daughter who died a few years later.

The loss to the orphan boy was lessened, if not compensated, by the care of a maiden lady--Mademoiselle Pictet--who had taken him into her charge at his father's death.