Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/494

 MORRIS

MORRIS

1890, but failed to receiv^e a majority and the election devolved on the legislature, which was Kepublican. In 1892 he was elected, serving 1893-95. He was president of the Connecticut Savings Bank of New Haven. His son, Robert Tuttle, became a prominent surgeon in New York city, and a professor in the New York Post- Qraduate Medical college. Governor Morris died in New Haven, Conn., Aug. 22, 1895.

MORRIS, Martin Ferdinand, jurist, was born in Youghal, Ireland, Dec. 3, 1836; son of John F. and Joan Lawton (Colbert) Morris. His family was of Welsh extraction. During his infancy his parents visited America ; and his father hav- ing died in Washington, his mother remained there with her children. Martin was educated at the old Washington seminary and subsequently at the University of Georgetown, D.C., where he was graduated in 1854. He was admitted to the bar in Baltimore, Md., in 1863, and in 1867 settled in practice in Washington, D.C., where he rose to eminence. In 1876 he was one of the three originators of the law department of the Uni- versity of Georgetown, and became professor of law, dean of the faculty and lecturer upon con- stitutional and international law. He also served as president of the bar association of the District of Columbia ; as a member of the American Bar association ; of the Literary Society of Washing- ton, and of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. He also became counsel for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company ; for Cardinal Gibbons, and for most of the institutions of the Roman Catholic clmrch in the District of Columbia. In 1886 he declined the position of chief justice of the supreme court of the District of Columbia, tendered by President Cleveland, but accepted from the President the position of associate justice of the court of appeals of the District of Columbia upon its organization in 1893. He was elected a life member of the Society of Alumni of Georgetown university and received from that university the honorary degree of LL. D. in 1877. He is the author of monographs and addresses including : Tlie East, a pai)er on the literature of Hindastan (Washington Literary Bociety, 1880); Centennial Address (University of Georgetown, 1880) ; Conflict betiveen the Civil Law of Rome and the Common Law of England (University of Georgetown, 1890); Origin of Civil Liberty — or the World's Indebtedness to Israel (United Hebrew Charities of Washington, January, 1892); Christopher Columbus (Literary Society of Washington, 1892); and History of the Development of Constitutional and Civil Liberty (1898).

MORRIS, Page, representative, was born in Lynchburg, Va., June 30, 1853; son of Dr. Wil- liam S. and Laura Page (Waller) Morris ; grand-

son of Richard Morris of Hanover, Va., and of Dr. Robert P. Waller of Williamsburg, Va., and a descendant of Gen. Hugh Mercer (q.v.) He attended a private school and William and Mary college, and was graduated from the Virginia Military institute in 1872. He was assistant pro- fessor of mathematics at the Virginia Military institute, 1872-73 ; professor of mathematics in the Texas Military institute, 1873-75, and profes- sor of applied mathematics in the Agricultural and Mechanical college of Texas, 1876-79. He was married Feb. 21, 1877, to Elizabeth Statham, of Lynchburg, Va. He studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1880, and practised in Lynch- burg, Va. He was the unsuccessful candidate for representative in the 49th congress from Vir- ginia in 1884. In 1886 he removed to Duluth, Minn. He was municipal judge of the city of Duluth, 1889-93 ; city attorney, 1894-95, and dis- trict judge of the 11th judicial district of Minne- sota, 1895-96. He was a Republican representa- tive from Minnesota in the 55th, 56th and 57th congresses, 1897-1903.

MORRIS, Phlneas Pemberton, educator, was born in Bucks county. Pa., May 2, 1817 ; son of James Pemberton Morris. He was graduated from Georgetown college, D.C., A.B., 1836, A.M., 1839 ; was admitted to the bar in 1840 ; was elected president of the Law Academy of Phila- delphia in 1840, and was vice-prevost of that institution, 1863-64. He was professor of practice, pleading and evidence at law at the University of Pennsylvania, 1862-84, and professor emeritus, 1884-88. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by the University of Pennsyl- vania in 1884. He edited John W. Smith's ' ' Land- lord and Tenant (1856), and is the author of: Treatise on the Law of Repleven (1849), and Mining Rights in Pennsylvania (1860). He died in Philadelphia, Pa., March 1, 1888.

MORRIS, Robert, signer, was born in Liver- pool, England, Jan. 31, 1734 ; son of Robert Morris, a prominent merchant of Liverpool, who immi- grated to Oxford, Md., in 1747, and was mortally wounded by the wadding of a gun which was being fired in his honor, and died in 1750. Robert Jr., was sent to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1748, and placed in the mercantile house of Charles Willing. He inherited his father's large estate, and u|X)n the death of Charles Willing in 1754, formed a partnership with Thomas Willing and carried on the business. He was married, Feb. 27, 1769, to Mary, daughter of Col. Thomas White and sis- ter to William White, the first bishop of Pennsyl- vania. Morris was active in agitating Revolution- ary measures, signed the non-importation agree- ment, 1765, and was a member of the committee which forced the stamp distributor to desist from the administration of his oflBlce. Upon the out-