Staats Long Morris
Encyclopedia
Staats Long Morris was an American
colonist who served as a major-general in the British
army during the American Revolution
. He was the grandson of Lewis Morris
(the first governor of New Jersey
), the brother of Lewis Morris
(a signer of the Declaration of Independence
), and the half-brother of Gouverneur Morris
(an author of the United States Constitution
).
He studied at Yale College
.
On May 31, 1756, he joined the British army, and became captain of the 36th foot. He was quickly promoted lieutenant-colonel in the 89th Highlanders, with which he served at the siege of the French colony of Pondicherry, India in 1761. He became Colonel in the 61st Foot. On July 7, 1763, he was made brigadier-general, in 1777 he obtained major-general, and in 1796 he became a general.
In 1769, he took out a patent of some 30,000 acres, at Butternuts Creek, near Otsego Lake (New York), and developed a settlement. In 1785, the patent was reassigned to Lewis Morris
, and Richard Morris. He inherited Morrisiana, which he sold to Gouveneur Morris in 1787.
On 1 June 1769, he purchased 967.37 acres, for £2,902 near Morristown, New Jersey
.
On August 28, 1790, he sold land in New Jersey
to John Ramsey, John Dickson, and Thomas Coyle
.
Morris became a member of the British Parliament, representing Elgin Burghs. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the nave of Westminster Abbey
in 1800.
and Lady Susan Murray (died 10 December 1779).
He married Miss Jane Urquart (died 15 March 1801), about December 1780.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
colonist who served as a major-general in the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
army during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. He was the grandson of Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris (1671-1746)
Lewis Morris , chief justice of New York and British governor of New Jersey, was the first lord of the manor of Morrisania in New York .-Biography:...
(the first governor of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
), the brother of Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris was an American landowner and developer from Morrisania, New York. He signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Continental Congress for New York....
(a signer of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
), and the half-brother of Gouverneur Morris
Gouverneur Morris
Gouverneur Morris , was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a native of New York City who represented Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation. Morris was also an author of large sections of the...
(an author of the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
).
He studied at Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
.
On May 31, 1756, he joined the British army, and became captain of the 36th foot. He was quickly promoted lieutenant-colonel in the 89th Highlanders, with which he served at the siege of the French colony of Pondicherry, India in 1761. He became Colonel in the 61st Foot. On July 7, 1763, he was made brigadier-general, in 1777 he obtained major-general, and in 1796 he became a general.
In 1769, he took out a patent of some 30,000 acres, at Butternuts Creek, near Otsego Lake (New York), and developed a settlement. In 1785, the patent was reassigned to Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris was an American landowner and developer from Morrisania, New York. He signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Continental Congress for New York....
, and Richard Morris. He inherited Morrisiana, which he sold to Gouveneur Morris in 1787.
On 1 June 1769, he purchased 967.37 acres, for £2,902 near Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
.
On August 28, 1790, he sold land in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
to John Ramsey, John Dickson, and Thomas Coyle
Thomas Coyle
Thomas Coyle was a Canadian accused, along with Phoebe Campbell, of the 1871 murder of Phoebe's husband George Campbell. Coyle was acquitted and he later moved to England....
.
Morris became a member of the British Parliament, representing Elgin Burghs. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the nave of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
in 1800.
Family
In March 1756, Morris married the widowed Lady Catherine Gordon (Duchess of Gordon), daughter of William Gordon, 2nd Earl of AberdeenWilliam Gordon, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen
William Gordon, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen , known between c. 1691 and 1720 as Lord Haddo, was a Scottish peer, Tory politician and Jacobite....
and Lady Susan Murray (died 10 December 1779).
He married Miss Jane Urquart (died 15 March 1801), about December 1780.
Sources
- WOLLASTON, JOHN; Portrait of General Staats Long Morris; ca.1749-52 (115374)
- Data-Wales: The Morris family of Tintern and Piercefield in south Wales
- Virtualology: Lewis Morris, Signer of the Declaration of Independence
- WikiSource: Francis Whiting Halsey, The Old New York Frontier, Part 3 Chapter 2, p. 104
- James J. Kirschke, Gouverneur Morris: Author, Statesman, and Man of the World, p. 158
- American links with Westminster Abbey and St Margaret's Church