Background
He was born on August 15, 1730, in Morrisania, then located in Westchester County, New York, the son of Lewis Morris (1698–1762) and Katrintje (Staats) Morris (1697–1731).
politician member of the New York State Senate
He was born on August 15, 1730, in Morrisania, then located in Westchester County, New York, the son of Lewis Morris (1698–1762) and Katrintje (Staats) Morris (1697–1731).
He graduated from Yale College in 1748. Then he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1752.
He was Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1779 to 1790. In 1762, he was appointed by Governor Robert Monckton to the New York Court of Vice-Admiralty. At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War he sided with the Patriots, and resigned from the bench in 1775.
On March 4, 1778, he was appointed by the New York State Assembly to the New York State Senate as one of the representatives of the Southern District, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Doctor John Jones.
He remained in the State Senate until October 1779, sitting in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd New York State Legislatures. On October 23, 1779, he was appointed by the Council of Appointment as Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court, and remained on the bench until September 1790 when he reached the constitutional age limit.
In 1788, he was a delegate to the New York Convention to Ratify the United States. Constitution. On October 19, 1789, he administered the oaths of office to Chief Justice of the United States. Supreme Court John Jay.
In December 1794, he ran on the Federalist ticket for Congress in the Westchester–Richmond district, but was defeated by Democrtaic-Republican Philip Van Cortlandt.
He died on April 11, 1810, in Scarsdale, New New York And was buried at the Trinity Churchyard in New York City.
Member of New York State Senate, 1778-1780. Member of New York County delegation to Poughkeepsie Convention of 1788.
Married Sarah Ludlow, June 13, 1759. Children: Mary, Lewis Richard, Robert.