William Morison (1663–1739) facts for kids
William Morison (1663–1739) was an important Scottish politician. He lived at Prestongrange in Haddington. He served in the Parliament of Scotland from 1690 to 1707. After Scotland and England joined, he became a member of the British House of Commons. He was a member of the Whig political party from 1707 to 1715.
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Early Life and Family Business
William Morison was born in 1663. His father, Sir Alexander Morison, was a successful businessman. He owned many different businesses. William's father was also a Commissioner in the Scottish Parliament.
William Morison took over the family businesses in 1683. This happened after his father passed away. These businesses included a large saltworks and local coal mines. He was also very interested in improving a harbour near Prestonpans. This harbour later became known as Morison's Haven.
Political Career in Scotland
William Morison began his political career in Scotland. In 1689, he helped with local defense as a commissioner of militia. In 1690, he became a Shire Commissioner for Haddingtonshire. This meant he represented his local area in the Scottish Parliament.
Morison supported the government's plans for a while. He invested a lot of money in a big project called the Darien scheme. This plan was to start a Scottish colony in Panama. However, the project failed by 1700, and many investors, including Morison, lost their money. This made him less supportive of the government.
In 1702, he became a Shire Commissioner for Peeblesshire. He continued to support important political leaders. Because of his loyalty, he was chosen for a special role. In 1706, he became a Commissioner for the union with England. This was a very important step towards forming Great Britain. In 1707, he was also made a Scottish Privy Councillor.
Joining the British Parliament
After Scotland and England united in 1707, William Morison became a Member of Parliament (MP). He was one of the first Scottish representatives to the first Parliament of Great Britain. He represented Scotland in the new British Parliament.
In 1708, he was elected as an MP for Peeblesshire. His main goal was to get a special law passed. This law would help improve the harbour near Prestonpans, which was now called Morison's Haven. However, he faced a lot of opposition, and the law did not pass easily.
Morison generally supported the ideas of the Whig party. He voted with the government on important issues. He lost his election in 1710. But he was re-elected for Peeblesshire in 1713. During this time, he faced personal challenges. His wife passed away in 1713, and he had growing money problems. These issues affected his work in Parliament. He did not run for Parliament again in 1715.
Later Life and Challenges
William Morison continued to face financial difficulties after leaving Parliament. He had inherited some debts from his father. His businesses also struggled. By 1733, his money problems became very serious. He was held in the Fleet Prison because of his debts. His properties were also taken over to pay what he owed.
Morison had an investment related to the Fleet River. This river had become blocked with dirt. A new law was passed to use the land around the river for building. Morison sent a request from prison to protect his investment. This helped him get released from prison.
William Morison passed away in another country in 1739. He still owed money to many people. He had several children with his first wife. His remaining property, including the saltworks and Prestongrange, was sold to pay off his debts.
Images for kids
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Prestongrange House, William Morison's family home.
