Overview
Robert Morris was a Philadelphia merchant and investor who played a major role in funding the American war effort during the American Revolutionary War and organizing the nation’s early financial system. He served in the Continental Congress and helped manage wartime finances. As the Superintendent of Finance, he established the Bank of North America, the first commercial bank in the United States. Morris was a Federalist and supported the United States Constitution. He became the largest landowner in the United States; however, failed deals led to his financial ruin. Despite this, he is a Founding Father who signed the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution.
Personal Facts
- Born: January 20, 1734, in Liverpool, England.
- Parents: Robert Morris Sr. (father) and Elizabeth Murphet (mother).
- Spouse: Mary White (1769).
- Died: May 8, 1806, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Buried: Christ Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Nickname: Financier of the Revolution.
- Part of: Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Significance
Robert Morris is important to American History for his role in providing financial support and guidance to the Continental Congress and the Confederation Congress during the American Revolutionary War. Morris and Roger Sherman are the only two people who signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution.
Biography
Early Life
Robert Morris was born in Liverpool, England, on January 20, 1734. His parents were Robert Morris Sr. and Elizabeth Murphet.
He immigrated to Oxford, Maryland, when he was 13, where his father, Robert Sr., was a successful tobacco merchant. His father sent him to Philadelphia, where he lived with Charles Greenway, a friend and business associate.
- Morris worked as an apprentice at Willing & Company, a firm involved in shipping and banking.
- It was owned by Charles Willing, a shipping merchant and the Mayor of Philadelphia.
Death of Robert Morris Sr.
Robert Morris Sr. died in an accident in 1748.
- Robert Sr. was attending a ceremony in his honor.
- A cannon salute was fired, using balls of cloth, known as “wadding,” instead of cannonballs.
- The wadding struck Robert Sr. in the arm.
- The wound became infected, and he died a few days later.
Willing, Morris & Company
Morris’s business acumen helped him rise within the company, and he eventually became a partner in the firm.
- Charles Willing died in 1754.
- Thomas Willing, his son, inherited Willing & Company.
- Morris became a partner in the company in 1756
- The company was renamed Willing, Morris & Company.
The company owned and maintained a fleet of merchant ships, which enabled it to become one of the most well-known and successful in Philadelphia.
Stamp Act Crisis
Morris became involved with the Patriot Cause in 1765, during the Stamp Act Crisis.
- Morris was a member of a committee that forced John Hughes, the Stamp Distributor for Pennsylvania, to resign.
- Morris signed a Non-Importation Agreement with other merchants, promising not to import British goods until the Stamp Act was repealed. Thomas Willing also signed this agreement.
To enforce the Non-Importation Agreement, the Pennsylvania Assembly established the “Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia.”
- Morris was one of the nine men on this board.
- The board was responsible for checking the licenses of the pilots who sailed ships up the Delaware River to the Port of Philadelphia.
Marriage to Mary White
Morris married Mary White on March 2, 1769. She was from a prominent Maryland family and the daughter of Colonel Thomas White, a lawyer and surveyor. Her brother, William White, was a well-known Bishop in the Anglican Church in Pennsylvania.
- Robert and Mary were Anglicans and attended St. Peter’s Church and Christ Church in Philadelphia.
- They had five sons and two daughters.
In 1770, Morris bought an 80-acre farm on the east side of the Schuylkill River. In 1772, he built a home he called “The Hills,” which was the centerpiece of his estate.
Tea Crisis
After Parliament passed the Tea Act to help the British East India Company, Philadelphia merchants were determined to prevent any ships carrying tea from unloading at the port.
- The ship Polly left England on September 27, 1773, carrying a shipment of East India tea, bound for Philadelphia.
- The Captain of the ship was named Ayres.
- On October 16, 1773, Morris was involved in a meeting where he and other merchants issued a statement declaring that anyone involved in shipping East India tea would be considered “an Enemy to his Country.”
- News of the Boston Tea Party reached Philadelphia on December 24.
- The next day, December 25, the Polly was reported to be sailing up the Delaware River toward Philadelphia.
On December 26, a group of delegates stopped the ship at Gloucester Point. Captain Ayres agreed to leave the ship with them and go to Philadelphia to attend a public meeting.
- The meeting was held on December 27 at the State House.
- It is estimated that 8,000 people attended.
- Morris helped convince Ayres to
- Ayres agreed he would not try to unload the tea.
- The Polly sailed away on December 28 and returned to England.
Increased Involvement in the Patriot Cause
Following the passage of the Intolerable Acts, Patriots in Pennsylvania organized committees to prepare for hostilities and communicate with groups in other colonies.
- Morris was a member of the Pennsylvania Council of Safety.
- He was a member of the Pennsylvania Committee of Correspondence.
- Morris was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1774, the last assembly elected under the original charter granted to William Penn.
John Barry and the Black Prince
In March 1774, Morris requested a meeting wth John Barry, a well-known shipmaster and merchant, who traded in the West Indies. Morris hired Barry to work for him as Captain of a ship, which was eventually called Black Prince.
AHC Notes
- John Barry (1745–1803) — Barry was a prominent officer in the Continental Navy and the U.S. Navy. He commanded a Continental Navy vessel in the first and last naval battles of the war. Afterward, he was the first commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy and oversaw the construction of its first frigate, the United States, and commanded it during the Quasi-War. Barry led U.S. naval forces during the presidencies of George Washington and John Adams and the early years of Thomas Jefferson.
Lexington and Concord
Morris was attending a dinner for the Society of the Sons of St. George on April 22, 1775, when the news about the Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775) arrived in Philadelphia.
Second Continental Congress
In 1775, Morris was elected as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, where he used his business and financial expertise to assist the American war effort as a member of the Secret Committee, the Committee of Secret Correspondence, and the Marine Committee.
The Secret Committee, also known as the “Secret Committee of Trade,” was tasked with acquiring military supplies, including weapons, covertly.
- The Secret Committee was established on September 19, 1775.
- This committee was eventually renamed the “Committee of Commerce.”
- Thomas Willing was also a member.
This committee awarded numerous contracts to Willing, Morris & Company, leading to accusations that Willing and Morris were intentionally profiting from the war.
Despite this, John Adams thought highly of him, praised him in a letter to Horatio Gates, saying, “You ask me what you are to think of Robt. Morris?…I think he has a masterly Understanding, an open Temper and an honest Heart…He has vast designs in the mercantile way. And no doubt pursues mercantile ends, which are always gain; but he is an excellent Member of our Body.,”
The Committee of Secret Correspondence was tasked with establishing diplomatic relations with foreign nations and “corresponding with our friends in Great Britain, Ireland, and other parts of the world.”
- The committee was established in November 1775.
- It was eventually named the “Committee for Foreign Affairs.”
- Morris joined the Secret Committee on January 30, 1776.
The Marine Committee was tasked with establishing the Continental Navy. He donated the Black Prince to the Navy, and it was renamed Alfred.
Declaration of Independence
When Richard Henry Lee introduced his resolution to declare independence, Morris opposed it. Thomas Willing also opposed independence.
- When the vote was taken on July 2, Morris did not attend the meeting.
- His absence helped ensure that Pennsylvania would vote in favor of independence.
- Despite his opposition, Morris was re-elected to Congress.
- On August 2, 1776, he signed the Declaration of Independence.
AHC Notes
- The Pennsylvania delegates were divided on the issue of independence.
- Benjamin Franklin and James Wilson were in favor.
- Morris and John Dickinson were opposed.
- John Morton, the fifth delegate, decided to support independence.
- Morris and Dickinson abstained by not attending the meeting.
The Model Treaty
The Lee Resolution also suggested taking steps toward forming foreign alliances. A committee was established for this, and Morris was a member.
- This committee produced the “Model Treaty,” which served as a template for securing foreign alliances during the war.
- It focused on reciprocal trade terms but did not require direct military support.
- It is also known as the “Plan of 1776.”
- The Model Treaty was approved by Congress on September 24, 1776.
AHC Notes
- The Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France (1778) was based on the Model Treaty.
- The Model Treaty also influenced future trade agreements, including the Convention of 1800, which ended the Quasi-War with France.
Pennsylvania Constitution
In May 1776, Congress instructed the 13 Colonies to draft and approve new constitutions to replace their colonial charters.
The Pennsylvania Constitution was ratified on September 28, 1776; however, it was met with controversy because it was perceived as overly democratic and lacked effective checks and balances. Two distinct groups emerged.
- “Constitutionalists” favored it.
- “Republicans” opposed it.
Morris was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly in November and again from 1778 to 1781. During this time, he helped amend the Pennsylvania Constitution.
- Morris was associated with the Republicans, who favored free trade over government-controlled markets.
- The Constitutionalists argued that government-controlled markets and price controls ensured common citizens could purchase necessary goods. Some of these concepts were aimed at preventing Privateers from price-gouging during the war.
Morris and Reverend Peletiah Webster published a statement promoting free trade, which made Morris unpopular among working-class people.
AHC Notes
- Pennsylvania was bankrupt in 1780.
- The blame is generally placed on the Constitutionalists and government-controlled markets.
Financier of the Revolution
Morris used a significant amount of his own money to finance the Continental Army and Congress, while strengthening the nation’s credit.
- Morris continued to run his private business while serving in public office.
- He used his own credit to issue notes to pay soldiers when government funds ran low.
- It is estimated that he used as much as $100 million of his own money in support of the United States.
His willingness to support the army and provide funding played a significant role during the New Jersey Campaign:
- In December 1776, General Washington was retreating across New Jersey. Congress decided to abandon Philadelphia. Morris, George Clymer, and George Walton remained in the city to continue congressional business. They contributed to the stunning American victory in the Battle of Trenton (December 26, 1776) by improving the system for supplying provisions to Washington’s Army (see Washington’s Retreat Across New Jersey).
- To continue the New Jersey Campaign, Washington offered bounties to the soldiers in the Continental Army who remained with him after their enlistments expired. To pay the bounties, Washington borrowed $50,000 from Morris. Washington promised to repay Morris with his own money. On New Year’s Day, 1777, the money from Morris arrived at Trenton. Along with the money came a series of resolutions, one of which granted Washington complete command of the army. This allowed Washington to continue his campaign and attack British forces at Princeton on January 3, 1777.
AHC Notes
- Charles Armand was a French volunteer who arrived in America in 1777. Armand delivered important letters from France to Congress and offered his assistance to the Patriot Cause. On May 10, Congress gave him a commission with the name Charles Armand and the rank of Colonel. Morris wrote a letter introducing Armand to General George Washington. Armand left Philadelphia and went to join the Continental Army. Washington was impressed with him and authorized him to assemble and supply a troop of rangers at his own expense.
Controversy with Silas Deane
During the winter of 1778–1779, Congress was divided over the conduct of Silas Deane. Morris took no part in the controversy, although he supported Deane, with whom he had had commercial relations.
In January 1779, however, Thomas Paine attacked Morris and Deane for conducting private commercial enterprises while holding public office. Then, on January 9, Henry Laurens made charges of fraudulent transactions against the firm of Willing & Morris.
A congressional committee investigated the charges and, at Morris’s request, examined his books. The committee reported, “the said Robert Morris…has acted with fidelity and integrity and an honorable zeal for the happiness of his country.” Despite this, this incident and the Deane controversy affected many people’s opinions toward Morris, particularly his political opponents.
A mass meeting in May appointed a committee to investigate his conduct, and although he was vindicated by another mass meeting in July, his popularity declined, and he was not reelected in November. For a year, he held no public office, but in November 1780, he was again elected to the Assembly, where he served until June 1781.
Articles of Confederation
When the delegates to the Second Continental Congress were drafting the Declaration of Independence, they were also developing a plan to unify the 13 Colonies. In the summer of 1776, a committee composed of one delegate from each colony drafted the Articles of Confederation. Although the document created a weak central government compared to the federal government established by the current Constitution, the Articles successfully created a “firm league of friendship” that guided the new nation through its early years.
- The Articles of Confederation were adopted by Congress on November 15, 1777.
- The Articles went into effect when they were ratified by the 13th and final state (Maryland) on March 1, 1781.
- Morris signed the Articles of Confederation.
Superintendent of Finance
By 1781, the United States was in serious financial trouble, owing roughly $25 million in debt. The Confederation Congress voted unanimously to appoint Morris as Superintendent of Finance of the United States after he paid the nation’s debt, using his personal funds.
- Morris held this position from 1781 to 1784.
- Congress allowed him to continue his private business dealings while he was in this role.
- He collaborated with Gouverneur Morris on a document titled “On Public Credit,” which proposed a national economic system. Alexander Hamilton used it as the basis for the economic plan he proposed as Secretary of the Treasury.
Morris led a movement to strengthen the central government and proposed a 5% tax on all imports to raise government revenue.
- This plan failed because it required unanimous approval under the Articles of Confederation.
- Morris resigned after the plan’s failure.
AHC Notes
- The Superintendent of Finance is considered the first executive office in American History.
Bank of North America
One of the first things Morris did as Superintendent of Finance was to establish the Bank of North America, the first commercial bank in the United States.
- Morris helped fund the bank with a loan he secured from France.
- Thomas Willing, James Wilson, and George Clymer were also involved in the venture.
- It was located in Philadelphia.
- Congress granted the bank a charter in 1781, and it opened in 1782.
- The bank provided financial support to both the national government and the State of Pennsylvania.
- In 1784, the Pennsylvania General Assembly granted the bank a state charter.
Critics of the bank argued that Morris’ dual role as banker and politician created conflicts of interest, while others viewed the bank as a monopoly that favored wealthy merchants.
- Anti-Bank politicians proposed a state loan office to issue paper money to farmers and artisans.
- The bank’s charter was revoked in 1785, after an extensive debate.
- By 1787, political control in Pennsylvania shifted, and the bank regained its charter.
Yorktown
Morris also served as Agent of the Marine and was responsible for operating the Continental Navy. He invested approximately $1.4 million to support the Yorktown Campaign.
- This helped the Continental Army and the French Army march to Yorktown.
- Morris coordinated with the French to bring French ships into the Chesapeake, which made the planned evacuation of the British army impossible.
Deed to Conestoga Town
On September 16, 1780, an official deed was created for what remained of Conestoga Town, which comprised approximately 414 acres. One-fourth of it was granted to John Musser, the land agent in Lancaster, and the rest was granted to Robert Morris. Conestoga Town was where the Conestoga Indians were living when they were attacked by the Paxton Boys in 1763 (see Paxton Boys and the Conestoga Massacre).
Empress of China
- In 1784, Morris helped fund the first American trade expedition to China.
- The expedition was carried out by the Empress of China, the first American ship to visit mainland China.
- The ship sailed from New York Harbor on February 22, 1784.
Site for the Nation’s Capital
In 1785, Morris, Philemon Dickinson, and Philip Schuyler were placed on a commission by the Confederation Congress and tasked with selecting the site for the nation’s capital. Dickinson wrote a report that named Trenton, New Jersey, as the top choice and Philadelphia as the second choice.
United States Constitution
Morris was a longtime advocate for a strong central government and helped move the nation in this direction.
- Morris attended the Annapolis Convention in 1786 to discuss amending the Articles of Confederation.
- In 1787, he hosted George Washington at his home during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
- Morris, who nominated Washington to be Chairman of the Convention.
- Morris signed the Constitution.
Federal Government
- Pennsylvania elected Morris as a Senator to the 1st Congress of the United States.
- After the Presidential Election of 1789, Morris wrote the message that was sent to Washington, informing him he had been elected as the nation’s first President.
- Washington offered him the position of Secretary of the Treasury. Morris declined and recommended Alexander Hamilton.
Land Speculation and Financial Collapse
In the 1790s, Robert Morris left his mercantile business to focus on land speculation, an investment strategy involving buying and selling real estate for profit. However, it came with significant risk, because land had to be bought and sold quickly, before promissory notes came due.
- Morris sought to acquire millions of acres across various regions, from upstate New York to Georgia, and invested in real estate in Washington, D.C.
- In 1792, he sold approximately 3.3 million acres of land in western New York to the Holland Company.
- Expecting large profits, Morris started building an elaborate mansion in Pennsylvania that was never completed. The home was designed by Pierre Charles L’Enfant. It was known as “Morris’ Folly.”
- In 1795, he founded the North American Land Company, which claimed ownership of 6 million acres in several states.
- By the late 1790s, he owned more land than anyone in America, but as his investments failed, he lacked the funds needed to pay his debts.
AHC Notes
- Promissory Note — A legally binding agreement in which the borrower agrees to repay a sum of money to a lender by a defined date. If the borrower fails to make timely payments, penalties are incurred, as stated in the note.
- Holland Land Company — A group of Dutch investors formed in 1792 that purchased 3.3 million acres of land in western New York from Morris. Guided by surveyor Joseph Ellicott, the company sold land to settlers from the mid-Atlantic states, built roads, and established towns such as Buffalo, Batavia, and Attica.
Later Years and Death
- In 1798, Morris declared bankruptcy and was imprisoned for debt.
- He remained imprisoned for more than three years, until the Bankruptcy Act of 1801 allowed his release.
- The courts determined that he owed $3 million to his creditors.
- After his release, Morris lived modestly in Philadelphia with his wife, Mary White Morris.
- Gouverneur Morris provided him with money.
- He died from asthma in 1806.
Accomplishments and Milestones
- 1734 — Robert Morris was born in England.
- 1747 — Morris immigrated to Philadelphia at age 13.
- 1769 — He married Mary White.
- 1775 — Morris became a member of the Second Continental Congress.
- 1776, August 2 — He signed the Declaration of Independence.
- 1781 — Morris became Superintendent of Finance for the United States.
- 1782, January — The Bank of North America opened in Philadelphia.
- 1784 — The Pennsylvania Assembly granted the bank a state charter.
- 1795 — Morris established the North American Land Company.
- 1797 — He was imprisoned for debt after his financial collapse.
- 1801 — Morris was released from prison following the Bankruptcy Act.
- 1806, May 8 — He died in Philadelphia.
AP US History
Definition
Robert Morris (1734–1806) — Morris was a leading financier of the American Revolution who used his commercial skill and personal credit to supply the Continental Army, secure foreign loans, and stabilize wartime finances. As Superintendent of Finance, he worked to restore public credit, created the Bank of North America, and promoted a stronger national government. He later served in the United States Senate, but failed land speculation investments led to bankruptcy and imprisonment.
Alignment
Robert Morris is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:
