Robert Morris

Robert Morris. , Financier of the Revolution , The man who would have become known as the "Financier of the Revolution" was born in Great Britain before immigrating to America in 1747. he settled in Philadelphia and became an apprentice at a shipping firm, quickly rising through the ranks to become a partner in the business. As a merchant, Morris was one of the wealthiest men in the Thirteen Colonies., Morris was elected to represent Pennsylvania in the Second Continental Congress in 1775 and personally purchased arms and supplies for Washington's Continental Army. As the Superintendent of Finance, Morris financially backed the Continental currency, funded the revolutionary government, and established the Bank of North America. He was also appointed the Agent of Marine, helping run the Continental Navy. Morris was one of two people who signed all of America's early Founding documents, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the US Constitution., Morris purchased what would be known as the President's House in 1781 and restored it following a fire the year before. Morris rented the house to President George Washington when he took office and moved his family to the home he owned next door., After the ratification of the Constitution, Morris declined Washington's offer to serve in the first presidential Cabinet as the secretary of the treasury. Instead, he served as one of Pennsylvania's inaugural senators in the US Senate from 1789-1795. Toward the end of his life, Morris lost his fortune due to land speculation and spent three and a half years in debtor's prison in Philadelphia. Released in 1801, Morris spent the remainder of his life in poverty until his death in 1806.