Staats Long Morris
General Staats Long Morris (27 August 1728 – 28 January 1800) was a British Army officer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1774 to 1784, representing Elgin Burghs, and served as governor of Quebec from 1797 until his death in office. Born in British North America, Morris parlayed a marriage to a Scottish noblewoman into a successful career in Britain as a military officer and politician in the British Parliament.
Staats Long Morris | |
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| Member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs | |
| In office 1774–1784 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Lockhart |
| Succeeded by | William Adam |
| Governor of Quebec | |
| In office 1797–1800 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | James Johnston |
| Succeeded by | William Goodday Strutt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 August 1728 Morrisania, New York |
| Died | 28 January 1800 (aged 71) England, United Kingdom |
| Resting place | Westminster Abbey |
| Spouse(s) | Duchess of Gordon (m. 1756) Jane Urquhart (m. 1780) |
| Parent(s) | Lewis Morris Katryntje Staats |
| Alma mater | Yale College |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Great Britain |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Seven Years' War |
The son of a prominent colonial politician and judge in New York, Morris graduated from Yale College in 1746 before embarking on a military career, serving as an officer in the New York Independent Companies. A protege of British official William Shirley, a journey with him to England in 1756 led Morris to marry the widowed Duchess of Gordon, who significantly advanced her husband's career in the British Army.
After serving in India during the Seven Years' War, Morris focused on North American affairs, receiving 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) of land grants in Canada. Morris also began to develop a fledgling political career, entering Parliament thanks to a friendship with Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon. When war broke out between Britain and its rebellious North American colonies in 1776, Morris, a Loyalist, avoided service in North America.
The Duchess died in 1779, and Morris remarried a year later. In 1796, Morris was raised to the rank of general, and was appointed governor of Quebec the next year. The position was a sinecure and Morris remained in England while holding the position, which he continued to do until his death in office at the age of 71. Morris was buried in Westminster Abbey, one of the few Americans to be accorded such an honor.
Early life
Staats Long Morris was born on 27 August, 1728, in Morrisania, New York.[1] His father, Lewis Morris Jr., was a politician and judge who served as the speaker of the New York General Assembly from 1737 to 1738 and sat on the High Court of the Admiralty of New York from 1737 to 1762.[2] Morris' mother was Katryntje (also known as Tryntje) Staats, who was the daughter of New Amsterdam doctor Samuel Staats.[3]
Morris was sent to study by his father alongside his brothers Richard and Lewis at Yale College in Connecticut, entering the college in 1743 and graduating in 1746.[4] The same year that he graduated, Morris' grandfather Lewis, the governor of New Jersey from 1738 to 1746, died. His father remarried to Sarah Gouverneur in the same year as well (Katryntje had died in 1731, when Morris was three years old).[3]
After graduating from Yale, Morris joined the colonial militia, rising to the rank of lieutenant in the New York Independent Companies.[5] When governor of Massachusetts, William Shirley raised the 50th Regiment of Foot in 1754 (during the French and Indian War), Morris was placed in command of the regiment's companies. When Shirley became Commander-in-Chief, North America, Morris served as one of his aides-de-camp.[5]
Career in Britain
When Shirley was recalled to England, Morris followed him as well. There, he met and eventually married widowed Scottish noblewoman Catherine Gordon, Duchess of Gordon, the widow of the 3rd Duke of Gordon, in 1756.[5][6] At the time of their marriage, Morris was only at the rank of captain and ten years her junior.[7] This "raised [eyebrows] in polite society", though according to the English Chronicle he
conducted himself in this new exaltation with so much moderation, affability and friendship that the family soon forgot the degradation the Duchess had been guilty of by such a connexion, and received her spouse into their perfect favour and esteem.[8]
The marriage led to Morris acquiring significant political influence, rising to the rank of major two years later.[8] In 1759, the Duchess persuaded King George II to allow Morris to raise a Highland regiment in the traditional territories of Clan Gordon, a region she was familiar with. This was done as a means of both advancing her husband's military career and countering the political influence of the Argyll family (vis-à-vis that of the Gordon family).[9]
The recruiting efforts for the new regiment, spurred on by the reputation of the Duchess, were so successful that within a few weeks 960 recruits had assembled at Gordon Castle. In December 1759, the recruits marched from Gordon Castle to Aberdeen, where they were organised into the 89th Regiment of Foot. Morris, now at the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, was made commandant of the 89th and held control over the distribution of commissions.[7] To the dismay of the Duchess,[9] the regiment was ordered to sail to India as part of the ongoing Seven Years' War, and the 89th embarked for the Indian subcontinent on November 1761. In April 1762, Morris left England to join the 89th, remaining in India until December 1763.[10] The 89th was described by historian Frank Adam as "having acquitted itself in a most exemplary manner during the whole period of its existence."[11]
Later career and death
After the Seven Years' War, Morris revived his interest in American affairs, applying for land grants in East Florida, Nova Scotia and Quebec in 1765; he was granted 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) in Canada in 1766. In 1768, Morris toured North America alongside his wife, visiting Pennsylvania and New York. Returning to Scotland in 1769, his friendship with the 4th Duke of Gordon helped Morris to be elected to the British House of Commons, representing Elgin Burghs from 1774 to 1784.[12]
When the Revolutionary War broke out between Britain and the Patriots in 1776, Morris, a Loyalist,[13] offered to resign, but the War Office in London instead assigned him to the British garrison at the island of Minorca "so that he would not be forced to fight on his native soil."[14] Morris was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1777, and made an unsuccessful application for command of the 50th Regiment of Foot. The British prime minister Lord North wrote to George III on his behalf, writing:
Lord North begs leave to bear testimony to Colonel Morris's most constant, uniform, zealous and disinterested support of Government ever since he has been in the House of Commons.[12]
After his wife died in 1779, Morris remarried to Jane Urquhart in 1780, remaining with her until his death. The rapid remarriage led relations between Morris and the 4th Duke of Gordon to quickly deteriorate, and by 1788 Morris was "at variance with the Duke". On the death of Sarah Gouvernour in 1786, Morris inherited the family house, which had been damaged by British troops. Having no interest in the property, Morris sold it to his half-brother, Gouverneur.[15][12]
In 1796, Morris was raised to the rank of general, and was appointed governor of Quebec the next year, succeeding general James Johnston.[16][17] The position was a sinecure and Morris remained in England while holding the position, which he continued to do until his death in office three years later on April 2, 1800 at the age of 71.[16] The position was succeeded by major-general William Goodday Strutt.[18] Morris was buried in Westminster Abbey, one of the few Americans to be accorded such an honor.[19]
References
Footnotes
- Whitehead & Morris 2012, pp. 189–190.
- Rhoden & Steele 1999, pp. 189–195.
- Brookhiser 2003, p. 6.
- Dexter 2015, pp. 82–85.
- Jones & De Lancey 2015, p. 139.
- Burke 2015, p. xv.
- Conway 2021, p. 130.
- Willoughby 2019, p. 11.
- Conway 2021, pp. 130–131.
- Duer 2010, pp. 12–13.
- Adam 1965, p. 451.
- Namier & Brooke 1964, pp. 168–169.
- Green et al. 2016, p. 7.
- Brookhiser 2003, p. 22.
- Brookhiser 2003, p. 77.
- Halsey 2010, p. 108.
- Cannon 2019, p. 91.
- Burke 2010, p. 213.
- Willoughby 2019, pp. 10–11.
Books
- Adam, Frank (1965). The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands. W. & A. K. Johnston & G. W. Bacon Ltd. ASIN B0014ZUAFA.
- Brookhiser, Richard (2003). Gentleman Revolutionary: Gouverneur Morris, the Rake Who Wrote the Constitution. Free Press. ISBN 978-1402568718.
- Burke, Edmund (2010). The Annual Register of World Events: A Review of the Year, Volume 90. Nabu Press. ISBN 978-1174017889.
- Burke, John (2015). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank, But Uninvested With Heritable Honours. Andesite Press. ISBN 978-1174017889.
- Cannon, Richard (2019). Historical Record of the Fourth, or Royal Irish Regiment of Dragoon Guards: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685; and of Its Subsequent Services to 1838. Good Press. ASIN B082T3HF7Y.
- Conway, Stephen (2021). History of the British Army, 1714–1783: An Institutional History. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1526711403.
- Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (2015). Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College: May 1745-May 1763. Arkose Press. ISBN 978-1344046688.
- Duer, William Alexander (2010). The life of William Alexander, Earl of Stirling: Major-general in the Army of the United States, during the Revolution: with selections from his correspondence. Nabu Press. ISBN 978-1177554411.
- Green, Richard Henry; Stiles, Henry Reed; Dwight, Melatiah Everett; Morrison, George Austin; Mott, Hopper Striker; Totten, John Reynolds; Pitman, Harold Minot; Ditmas, Charles Andrew; De Forest, Louis Effingham; Mann, Conklin; Maynard, Arthur S. (2016). The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Palala Press. ISBN 978-1359545039.
- Halsey, Francis Whiting (2010). The Old New York Frontier: its wars with Indians and Tories; its missionary schools, pioneers and land titles, 1614-1800 - War College Series. Nabu Press. ISBN 978-1174017889.
- Jones, Thomas; De Lancey, Edward Floyd (2015). History of New York During the Revolutionary War and of the Leading Events in the Other Colonies at That Period - War College Series. War College Series. ISBN 978-1296476397.
- Namier, Lewis; Brooke, John (1964). The History of Parliament: the House of Commons, 1754-1790. Oxford University Press. ASIN B0007DNQ10.
- Rhoden, Nancy L.; Steele, Ian K. (1999). The Human Tradition in Colonial America. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0842026970.
- Whitehead, William Adee; Morris, Lewis (2012). The Papers of Lewis Morris, Governor of the Province of New Jersey from 1738 to 1746: Published by the New Jersey Historical Society. Ulan Press. ASIN B009LRTMG6.
- Willoughby, Tony (2019). Westminster Abbey and the United States of America. Paragon Publishing. ISBN 978-1782226642.
