I've read a little about this guy and was hoping to get your take. Interestingly enough, he seems like a pretty heroic figure, personally financing and guaranteeign loans for the nation. He also signed all three founding documents. An interesting paragraph from Wikipedia: It seems government's natural tendency is to increase control, almost always to the detriment of its citizens.
I think you mean Robert Morris. I leave it to Jim to tell about this interesting patriot. The one story I'll relate was about a parade that they had for him after the war to recognize his contributions. Apparently he was hit by a burning cotton wad used in the cannons to salute him. He subsequently developed an infection from the burn and died.
Mike is correct. His name was Robert Morris and he earned the name "Financier of the Revolution" by paying for it out of his own pocket, but he did a lot more than that. Three of the founding fathers were incredibly rich: Robert Morris, John Hancock and George Washington. Hancock ran the government during the revolution. Washington ran the army, and Morris was the glue that held the whole thing together. Armies and governments are expensive, but these men risked everything for their beliefs. (BTW- thanks to Mike for relating the way that Robert Morris died. I did not know that.) Morris is the forgotten founder of our nation. The textbook that we use doesn't even mention him. He was there, behind the scenes at every major event in the founding of our country, and there certainly wouldn't be a United States of America without him. As a member of the Pennsylvania Committee of Correspondence, (These were the shadow governments in each colony that became the United States) he helped to create the revolution. During the Revolutionary War, he personally kept Washington's army and Hancock's government going with personal loans and gifts that made victory possible. How important was Morris? Consider that the French Revolution was caused, because France went broke helping the Americans win their independence. The Americans themselves never suffered that fate, because of two men who were amazingly good at handling money: Robert Morris and Alexander Hamilton. Ironically, neither man was as good at handling his own money, as they were public money, but that's another story. I suppose we'll never recognize the achievements of people like Robert Morris as long as the lib/Dems control our system of education. The story of a rich guy who sacrificed everything to create a country where other common men could become rich doesn't fit the Leftist agenda or their stereotype of "greedy capitalists" who earn money only to hoard it. The truth is, MOST of our founding fathers were such men. I won't bother listing them. Just look at the names on the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution and you'll see most of them there...
Very nice history lesson. Thanks, Mike and JO'Co. A small historical diversion re: the Declaration of Independence: My maternal ancestor, Timothy Matlack, hand-wrote the actual document that was signed. The following excerpt is from the National Archives: Sadly, I did not inherit his exquisite penmanship.
Robert Morris is an iconic name to anybody with a career of background in banking. His namesake school, Robert Morris University in downtown Pittsburgh began as the Robert Morris School of Accountancy. His namesake firm, Robert Morris Associates publishes research and financial data on businesses that are part and parcel to the daily lives of any lender or credit officer in the business anywhere.....the financial ratios provided by RMA have been a determining factor in unknown $trillions$ of credit decisions world-wide forever..... His contributions to the industry and wide-spread usage of his data are so significant that I'm surprised our gator friend hasn't blamed him for the state of the economy as well as Bush.
Diane has a famous ancestor involved in these events. His name was Charles Carroll of Carrollton and every woman in her family has the middle name "Carroll" going all the way back to those times. These currently include my wife, my daughter and my granddaughter. Charles Carroll was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. Fifty years later, on July 4, 1826, he was at a ceremony driving the golden spike to inaugurate America's first railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, when both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on that day, leaving him as the last surviving signer...
Of course, Robert, not Phillip Morris (cigarette dude?). Any way to edit the subject? Re: wadding, was Robert's father according to Wikipedia (Rappleye, Charles. Robert Morris: Financier of the American Revolution (2010) ISBN 978-1-4165-7091-2, pg. 252). JOCO - thank you! I love having a resident history genius at my fingertips. Yes, it is a wonder I don't remember learning anything about him in school, even though Washington, Madison and the others were related as heroes.
:idea: :roll: Here is an example of what the problem is... George Washington, who dat? from Omaha.com George Washington, Ben Franklin back in social studies rewrite The absence of George Washington and the other Founding Fathers from a proposed rewrite of Nebraska’s social studies standards caused a stir. America’s Founding Fathers and other essential historical figures and dates will be added to proposed new Nebraska social studies standards, a state official leading the rewrite said Tuesday. Their absence from an earlier draft, which focused instead on broad concepts and themes, drew criticism from the public and some members of the Nebraska Board of Education when released in April. “At this point, it’s not finished, but we will definitely be adding historical figures back in there,” said Donlynn Rice, administrator of curriculum, instruction and innovation in the Nebraska Department of Education. “We listened to the input.” However, fresh concerns about the standards were raised Tuesday as Rice briefed state board members on the progress of the rewrite. Board member John Sieler expressed concern that the initial draft standards treat man-made global warming as fact not theory, advocate global government and fail to emphasize American exceptionalism. “Not all cultures are equivalent,” he said. Sieler said constituents have complained to him that the rewrite process was not open to the public. Rice said there will be ample opportunity for public input on the next draft, through an online survey and a public hearing.
I am pretty sure I was taught in high school that someone threw a knife at Robert Morris in Yankee Stadium...... I might be confused..... 8)
So many comedians and so little time... This reminds me of my classroom. Where are my detention slips? Some of you deserve a meeting with Sister Mary Box-your-ears...