Country mistreated hero of Revolution
Robert Morris, my ancestor, was one of the signers of the Declaration Of Independence. And one of the greatest business minds in the colonies. He was born in Liverpool, England, in 1734 and joined his father's shipping business after immigrating here to the American continent.
He became very wealthy and during the Revolutionary War, George Washington came to him and asked him to help supply the troops, which he did with his own fortune. Morris was a risk taker and bought millions of acres of land here and when a loan from Holland fell through, the country's creditors put him in debtors prison.
Imagine such an ungrateful nation taking all his fortune and then imprisoning him. He lost his health in prison and was released in 1800 when Washington arranged for his release. His wife, Mary, had seven children and was only given a small annuity by Congress to live on. This man was one of the most successful patriots in his time and he died penniless in 1806.
My family carries his name after seven generations, but it is to be remembered that his money allowed the Revolutionary War to continue.
Martha Tuohy
Arlington Heights