Background
Isaac Norris was born on October 23, 1701 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He was the son of Isaac Norris and Mary (Lloyd) Norris.
merchant politician religious leader
Isaac Norris was born on October 23, 1701 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He was the son of Isaac Norris and Mary (Lloyd) Norris.
Norris was educated at the Friends' school.
In 1722 Norris spent a few months in England and in the years 1733-34 he made a longer visit to England and the Continent.
He was a common councillor of Philadelphia, 1727-30, an alderman, 1730-42, a member of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, 1734-66, speaker of the Assembly, 1750-64, and a representative of Pennsylvania at the Indian Conferences held at Albany in 1745 and 1754.
During his first term as speaker (1751), the old state house or Liberty bell was ordered from England and it was at his suggestion that the famous inscription was placed upon it: "Proclaim liberty throughout the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof. " Norris's militant pacifism is the pride of Quaker historians.
In 1739, when Deputy-Governor George Thomas asked the Assembly to provide for the defense of the colony against the Spaniards, they replied that they had conscientious scruples and would put their trust in God and the mother country. In accordance with this decision, they refused to enact a militia law or to appropriate funds for military purposes. The quarrel, which was later complicated by a dispute over the right of the Assembly to tax the proprietary estates, lasted until the close of the Seven Years' War. Norris played so prominent a part in this conflict that the Quaker majority in the Assembly was frequently called the Norris party.
He was selected to go to England with Benjamin Franklin in 1757 to represent the anti-proprietary faction, but, owing to ill health, was compelled to refuse. Although he continued to oppose the proprietors, he was not in sympathy with the petition sent to the King in 1764 asking for a change from proprietary to royal government. There is a difference of opinion as to whether he resigned the speakership at this time (May 1764) because of his health, which was undoubtedly poor, or because he disapproved the policy of the Assembly. It is possible that he was influenced to some extent by his son-in-law, John Dickinson, who was associated with the proprietary party. He was again elected speaker by the new Assembly in the following October and again resigned after a few days' service.
He retained his seat in the house, however, and was reelected in 1765, but his health continued to fail and he died at his home, "Fair Hill, " near Philadelphia, July 13, 1766.
He lived in the famous "Slate-roof House" in Philadelphia for several years, but in 1742 he removed to "Fair Hill" in the Northern Liberties, where he spent the remainder of his life.
With his father's books as a nucleus, he built up a large and well-selected library which in 1784 was given by his son-in-law to Dickinson College.
Norris was married to Sarah Logan, the eldest daughter of James Logan, June 6, 1739. She died October 13, 1744. He was survived by two daughters--Mary, who married John Dickinson, and Sarah, who died in 1769.
