Robert Hunter Morris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Hunter Morris
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| Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania | |
| In office 1754–1756 |
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| Preceded by | James Hamilton |
| Succeeded by | William Denny |
| Member of the New Jersey Provincial Council for the Eastern Division | |
| In office April 1738 – 27 January 1764 His death. |
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| Succeeded by | James Parker |
| Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court | |
| In office 17 March 1739 – 27 January 1764 His death. |
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| Preceded by | Robert Lettis Hooper |
| Succeeded by | Charles Reade |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1700 Trenton, New Jersey |
| Died | 27 January 1764 Shrewsbury, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouses |
Elizabeth Stogdell
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| Relations | Lewis Morris (brother) |
| Children | Mary Morris Robert Morris |
Robert Hunter Morris (around 1700 – January 27, 1764) was an important leader in Colonial Pennsylvania. He served as the governor of Pennsylvania and also as the top judge (Chief Justice) of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Hunter Morris was born in 1700 in Trenton, New Jersey. He was the second son of Lewis Morris, who was a very famous public figure. His father served as a chief justice in New York and as the governor of New Jersey.
Robert was named after his father's friend, Robert Hunter, who would also become a colonial governor. Robert's older brother, Lewis Morris Jr., was a speaker in the New York General Assembly.
Robert received a good education for his time. He also learned a lot about politics from his father.
Political Career
When Robert's father became the Governor of New Jersey in 1738, Robert was named one of his advisors. Less than a year later, his father appointed him as the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. This meant he was the main judge for the entire province.
Robert was known for making the court system work more smoothly and on time. In 1744, he became a member of The American Philosophical Society, a group that studied science and knowledge.
After a trip to England in 1749, Robert Morris was chosen to be the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania in 1754. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1755, which is a very respected scientific group in England.
Serving as Deputy Governor
Robert Morris was Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania from 1754 to 1756. This was during the French and Indian War, a big conflict between Britain and France (and their Native American allies). The governors of Pennsylvania were called "deputy governors" because the actual owners of the province, the Penn family, lived in England.
During his time as governor, Morris often disagreed with the Pennsylvania Assembly (the local government). They argued about how to pay for the war, especially about taxing the lands owned by the Penn family. In 1756, Morris even suggested forming groups to fight against Native American groups on the frontier.
Clash with Benjamin Franklin
In 1755, there was a major disagreement between the Penn family (who owned Pennsylvania) and the Assembly. Robert Morris was caught in the middle. The main problem was that the Penn family refused to pay taxes on their land, even to help fund the defense of the province during the war.
While the frontier was being attacked, the Penn family and the Assembly couldn't agree on how to raise money. Morris supported the Penn family, while Benjamin Franklin spoke for the people of Pennsylvania.
The Assembly wanted to raise money for defense by taxing all property, including the Penns' land. Morris, however, had orders not to approve any tax that included the Penn family's estates. This led Benjamin Franklin to travel to London in 1757 to argue the Assembly's side directly to the Penn family.
Return to Chief Justice Role
In 1756, Morris resigned from his Chief Justice position, but his resignation wasn't officially accepted. He then took another long trip to England. When he returned in 1760, he argued that he was still the Chief Justice because his resignation was never finalized. Since the person who replaced him had passed away, Morris was given his old job back. He served as Chief Justice until his death in 1764.
Family Life
Robert Morris was married to Elizabeth Stogdell. They had two children:
- Robert Morris (1745–1815), who also became a well-known judge. He even wrote letters to Thomas Jefferson.
- Mary Morris (1746–1831), who married Dr. James Boggs in 1765.
Robert Hunter Morris passed away on January 27, 1764, in Shrewsbury, New Jersey.
