The Buttonwood Agreement is one of the most significant events in the history of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). This seminal agreement laid the foundation of the NYSE and established the principles of securities trading that have lasted to this day.

The Buttonwood Agreement was signed on May 17, 1792, under a buttonwood tree located at the corner of Wall Street and Broad Street in New York City. The agreement was signed by a group of 24 brokers and merchants, who met to create a new and formal organization to trade securities on a regular basis.

The brokers and merchants who signed the Buttonwood Agreement were some of the most prominent and influential people of their time. They included Alexander Hamilton, who would go on to become the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, John Henry Livingston, Leonard Lispenard, and Nathan Prime.

These men were all prominent figures in the financial and business communities of New York City and were instrumental in the development of the American financial system. They had a significant impact on the growth of the country`s economy and the establishment of the United States as a major financial power.

The Buttonwood Agreement was a landmark moment in the history of the New York Stock Exchange and marked the beginning of formalized securities trading in the United States. The agreement established the principles of securities trading, including the requirement that all transactions were to be conducted in a fair and honest manner.

In conclusion, the Buttonwood Agreement was a significant moment in the history of the New York Stock Exchange and marked the beginning of securities trading in the United States. The 24 brokers and merchants who signed the agreement were instrumental in the growth and development of the American financial system and their legacy continues to this day.