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Gouverneur Morris ( / ɡʌvərnɪər ˈmɒrɪs / guh-vər-NEER MOR-ris; [1] January 31, 1752 – November 6, 1816) was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution.
- 1 min
- He died after a gruesome bit of self-surgery. After suffering from crippling gout throughout the fall of 1816, the Founding Father’s pain grew even worse when he began to experience a urinary tract blockage.
- Morris had a peg leg. Pain was nothing new for Morris. As a 14-year-old, he accidentally dropped a kettle of boiling water that scalded his right arm and side and forced him to miss an entire year of classes at King’s College (present-day Columbia University).
- Morris carried on an affair in the Louvre. Morris traveled to Paris on a business venture in 1789, and three years later President George Washington appointed him minister to France.
- The American Revolution split his family. Although initially fearing “the domination of a riotous mob,” Morris backed the patriot cause after the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775.
Gouverneur Morris (born January 31, 1752, Morrisania house, Manhattan [now in New York City]—died November 6, 1816, Morrisania house, New York, New York, U.S.) was an American statesman, diplomat, and financial expert who helped plan the U.S. decimal coinage system.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Jun 8, 2020 · Learn about Gouverneur Morris, the "Penman of the Constitution" who wrote the Preamble and shaped the presidency and representation. He was a prominent Federalist, a critic of slavery, and a diplomat in France.
Learn More. Known as “the Penman of the Constitution,” the eccentric and outspoken Gouverneur Morris contributed in multiple ways to building the core foundation of American government.
An interview with the editor of Morris's diaries, who reveals his life and legacy as a Founding Father and diplomat. Learn about his role in the Constitution, the French Revolution, the Erie Canal, and his relationship with Hamilton.
What was Gouverneur Morris's role in the Newburgh Conspiracy? How did he contribute to the Constitutional Convention and and what were his view on the purposes of government?
