Lewis R. Morris

Lewis R. Morris
Lewis R. Morris
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 2nd district
In office May 11, 1797 – March 3, 1803
Preceded by	Daniel Buck
Succeeded by	James Elliot
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1795-1797 1803-1808
Personal details
Born	November 2, 1760 Scarsdale, New York
Died	December 29, 1825 (aged 65) Springfield, Vermont
Political party	Federalist
Spouse(s)	Hulda Theodosia Olcott and Ellen Hunt
Profession	law, congressman

Lewis Richard Morris (November 2, 1760 –December 29, 1825) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a United States Representative from Vermont.

Biography

Morris was born in Scarsdale, New York and attended the common schools. While in his teens, Morris served as an aide to General Philip Schuyler and then to General George Clinton (vice president) during the American Revolutionary War.^[1]

Morris moved to Springfield, Vermont in 1786, and established himself as a businessman, landowner and politician. He served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1781 to 1783. He was a member of the Springfield meeting-house committee in 1785 and was tax collector in 1786 and 1787. He served as a selectman on the town council in 1788, and as town treasurer from 1790 to 1794.^[2] Morris was Windsor County court clerk from 1789 to 1796. He served as judge of the Windsor County court until 1801.

Morris was clerk of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1790 and 1791, and was a member of the convention to ratify the United States Constitution.^[3] He was secretary of the constitutional convention in Windsor in 1793. Morris attended the Vermont ratifying convention in Bennington, Vermont, where he voted in support of the Constitution. On March 4, 1791 President George Washington appointed him the first U.S. Marshal of the District of Vermont. He served as Marshal until 1794.^[4]

Morris was a brigadier general in the State militia in 1793 and major general of the First Division from 1795 to 1817.^[5] He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1795 to 1797 and 1803 to 1808, and served as speaker.^[6] He was elected as a Federalist to the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1797 to March 3, 1803.^[7]

Family life

Morris married Hulda Theodosia Olcott, who died soon after their marriage. He later married Ellen Hunt, daughter of Jonathan Hunt.

Morris was a nephew of Gouverneur Morris and Lewis Morris.^[8]

Death

Morris died on December 29, 1825 in Springfield, Vermont, and is interred at Forest Hill Cemetery in Charlestown, New Hampshire.^[9]

References

1. "LEWIS R. MORRIS (1760-1825)". US Marshals Museum. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
2. "The First Marshal of Vermont: Lewis R. Morris". US Marshals Service. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
3. "Morris, Lewis Richard (1760-1825)". ThePolitical Graveyard. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
4. "LEWIS R. MORRIS (1760-1825)". US Marshals Museum. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
5. "MORRIS, Lewis Richard, (1760 - 1825)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
6. "Speakers of the House". Vermont Office of the Secretary of the State. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
7. "Rep. Lewis Morrispublisher=govtrack.us". Retrieved October 24, 2012.
8. "MORRIS, Lewis Richard, (1760 - 1825)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
9. "Morris, Lewis Richard (1760-1825)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 24, 2012.

External links

• United States Congress. "Lewis R. Morris (id: M000983)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The Political Graveyard
• US Marshals Museum
• The First Marshal of Vermont: Lewis R. Morris
• govtrack.us