ROBERT
MORRIS was born January 31, 1734 in Liverpool, England.At
the age of thirteen, he left England and joined his father of the same name, who
was engaged in the exportation of tobacco on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. The
boy was sent to Philadelphia, where he had slight schooling, and soon was placed
in the counting house of Charles Willing, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant.By
his diligence and activity he grew in favor and commanded confidence.After
the death of Mr. Willing, he was taken into partnership by the latter's son,
Thomas, and this connection was maintained until 1793.At
the beginning of he Revolution the firm of Willing and Morris was one of the
largest and most prosperous among the commercial houses of Philadelphia.Although
he was strongly attached to Britain, in 1765 he joined in the opposition to the
Stamp Act.
Stockton was large in
person, frequently afflicted with asthma, agreeable and lavishly hospitable in
private life> He was more respected and feared as a public man than he was
liked.On March 2, 1769, Robert
married twenty year old Mary White, who was described as "elegant,
accomplished, and rich, and well qualified to carry the felicity of connubial
life to its highest perfection."In
1775 he was elected to the Second Continental Congress and on July 1, 1776, he
voted against the Declaration of Independence, holding out for reconciliation
because he considered that "it was an improper time". On July 4,
1776, he declined to vote.Yet on
August 2, Robert Morris signed the Declaration, pronouncing that "I am not
one of those politicians that run testy when my own plans are not adopted.I
think it is the duty of a good citizen to follow when he cannot lead."
When hostilities began, his
services became more and more valuable.As
a member of the committee of ways and means he worked hard, and gave to the
government the full benefit of his credit.Without
Morris's help the campaigns of 1780 would have been impossible.In
1779, he supplied General Nathanael Green with munitions of war, and in 1780 he
raised $1,400,000 to assist Washington in the movement that resulted in the
capture of Yorktown.In February
1781, he was unanimously elected superintendent of finance.As
superintendent of finance, he slashed all governmental and military
expenditures, personally purchased army and navy supplies, strengthened
accounting procedures, urged the states to fulfill quotas of money and supplies,
and when necessary used his personal credit by issuing notes over his own
signature or borrowing from friends.
In December 1781, when the
financial situation had become desperate, the government being $2,500,000 in
debt, he organized the Bank of North America, subscribing $10,000.The
bank was incorporated by congress December 31, 1781 and went into operation
January 7, 1782, with a capital of $400,000. It was the first financial
institution chartered by the United States.
In 1787 he was a member of
the Constitutional Convention and signed the Constitution for Pennsylvania. From
1789 to 1795 he served as a member of the first U. S. Senate from Pennsylvania.
When the new government was organized, he was offered the post of secretary of
the treasury, but declined, recommending Alexander Hamilton.In
partnership with Gouverneur Morris, he went largely into the East India and
China trade.His speculations
ultimately failed, and in 1798 he was arrested for debt.
He had sought refuge from is
creditors in his country place, ‘The Hills' on the Schuylkill River, but he
was arrested and was confined to the Prunestreet prison, Philadelphia, from
February 1798, until liberated by the passage of the national bankrupt law in
1802.When misfortune had overtaken
him, Mary showed herself a true wife.Through
certain interests in the Holland Land Company, bequeathed to her by Gouverneur
Morris, she obtained from that corporation a life annuity of $2,000 before she
would sign certain papers to which her signature was indispensable.During
her husband's imprisonment Mrs. Morris received an autograph letter signed by
both President and Martha Washington, addressed to her while residing
temporarily at Winchester,Va., urging her to pay them a visit at Mount Vernon,
and to make as long a stay under "our roof as you shall find convenient;
for be assured we ever have, and still do retain the most affectionate regard
for you, Mr. Morris and the family."Mrs.
Morris continued to reside in Philadelphia, and on her husband's release he
found shelter in the home that her decision and forethought had secured for him.Robert
Morris's last five years, until his death on May 8, 1806 at the age of
seventy-two were passed in obscure retirement.
Autograph letter signed
"Robt Morris," dated Philadelphia, 9th March 1798, to John
Nicholson, his partner in speculating, from debtors' prison."The
enclosed letters of the 7th from the trustees came hither last night.It
appears that they grow sore under your letters and I confess that the reply as
to Oden I expected after taking a copy.I
suppose you will return this letter with such remarks as may occur."Docketed
by Nicholson, who apparently had no remarks to make.Morris
and Nicholson had speculated heavily in land together, but when the bottom fell
out of their North American Land Company venture, Morris was left penniless and
deep in debt.His letters from jail
are scarce.
We invite you to read a transcription
of the complete text of the Declaration as presented by the National Archives.
&
The article "The
Declaration of Independence: A History,"
which provides a detailed account of the Declaration, from its drafting through
its preservation today at the National Archives.
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