- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
Robert Morris
MORRIS, Robert, financier and signer of the Declaration of Independence, born in Liverpool, England, 20 January, 1734; died in Philadelphia, Pa., 8 May, 1806.
He emigrated to America as a child and became a successful merchant in Philadelphia. Morris was elected to the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. He served as Superintendent of Finance during the Revolutionary War, where he stabilized the economy and secured funding for the army.
Morris was instrumental in establishing the Bank of North America and advocated for a strong federal government. He later served as U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.
Despite his early success, Morris suffered financial ruin due to land speculation and was imprisoned for debt. He spent his final years in poverty, though his contributions to American independence and finance were profound.
Source:
Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1887. Patriot Echoes Archive
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