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History and Government—Congressional Biographies—Pennsylvania MORRIS, Robert(1734—1806)Senate Years of Service: 1789-1795Party: Pro-Administration MORRIS, Robert, (father of Thomas Morris [1771-1849]), a Delegate and a Senator from Pennsylvania; born in Liverpool, England, January 20, 1734; immigrated to the United States in 1747 and settled in Oxford, Md.; attended school in Philadelphia; became a merchant in Philadelphia in 1748; signed the non-importation agreement of 1765; member of the Pennsylvania Council of Safety 1775; Member of the Continental Congress 1775-1778; signer of the Declaration of Independence; settled upon the Manheim estate; member, State assembly 1778-1781; national superintendent of finance 1781-1784; established the Bank of North America; member, State assembly 1785-1787; delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787; elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1795; declined to be a candidate for renomination; declined the position of Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet of President George Washington; known as the “financier of the American Revolution” and one of the richest men in America, Morris became involved in unsuccessful land speculations, which caused him to be imprisoned for debt from 1798 to 1801; died in Philadelphia, Pa., May 8, 1806; interment in the family vault of William White in the churchyard of Christ Church. Chernow, Barbara Ann. “Robert Morris: Genesee Land Speculator.” New York History 58 (April 1977): 195-220. ___. Robert Morris, Land Speculator, 1790-1801. New York: Arno Press, 1978. Ferguson, E. James, John Catanzariti, Elizabeth M. Nuxoll, Mary A.Y. Gallagher, et al, eds. The Papers of Robert Morris, 1781-1784. 9 vols. to date. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1973-. Loftin, T.L. Contest for a Capital: George Washington, Robert Morris, and Congress, 1783-1791, Contenders: Dramatized Events of America’s Founding Years . Washington: T. Loftin, 1989. Morris, Robert. The Confidential Correspondence of Robert Morris . Philadelphia: S.V. Henkles, 1917. Oberholtzer, Ellis Paxton. Robert Morris: Patriot and Financier . 1903. Reprint. New York: B. Franklin, 1968. Sumner, William Graham. The Financier and the Finances of the American Revolution . 2 vols. 1891. Reprint. New York: B. Franklin, 1970. Ver Steeg, Clarence L. Robert Morris, Revolutionary Financier, With an Analysis of His Earlier Career . New York: Octagon Books, 1972. Wagner, Frederick. Robert Morris, Audacious Patriot . New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1976. Young, Eleanor May. Forgotten Patriot . New York: Macmillan Co., 1950. Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present |
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