Amos Strettell, the son of merchant Robert Strettell, was born in Dublin in 1720 and came with his family to Philadelphia in 1736. Amos followed in his father’s footsteps as a merchant; also like his father Amos served as a trustee of the College and Academy of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) from 1762 until his death, and as treasurer of that board in 1765 and 1766.