Fitzsimons' family immigrated to [[Philadelphia] in the mid-1750s. His father died shortly thereafter; young Thomas, upon completing his education, entered a counting-house as a clerk. <ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000178</ref> In 1763 Thomas went into business with his new brother-in-law, George Meade (the grandfather of the Civil War general), specializing in trade with the West Indies.
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Fitzsimons' family immigrated to [[Philadelphia]] in the mid-1750s. His father died shortly thereafter; young Thomas, upon completing his education, entered a counting-house as a clerk. <ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000178</ref> In 1763 Thomas went into business with his new brother-in-law, George Meade (the grandfather of the Civil War general), specializing in trade with the West Indies.