Nathan Dunn (November 11, 1782 – September 19, 1844) was an American businessman, philanthropist and sinology pioneer who accumulated a large collection of Chinese artifacts while running a trade business in Canton, China for 12 years.

However, John Field, one of his creditors, proposed a way for Dunn to pay down debt through the creation of a joint business and a post in China.

[4] Except for a visit to England in 1820-1821,[5] he lived and worked there for 12 years[6] buying tea and nankeen and selling specially produced British goods.

[8] He returned to Philadelphia in 1832, and brought with him a large collection of Chinese artistic and cultural objects and paid off all of his creditors.

[9] The Philadelphia Museum, created by Charles Willson Peale, appointed Dunn to its board of directors in 1836.

[12] The collection was displayed in a pagoda-like exhibition hall designed by John Notman[13] at Hyde Park Corner.

[14] Apart from artifacts, the museum had life-size clay figures accurately modeled after about 50 real Chinese acquaintances personally selected by Dunn, representing variety of social positions, occupations etc., standing against dioramas, and extensive annotations of the exhibits.

[19] Dunn's assets could not cover the generous bequests of his will and the collections was exhibited throughout England in an attempt to raise money.