Born in Westchester County, New York, Lewis Morris attended Yale College. He married Mary Walton and they had ten children together.

As the eldest son, Morris acquired his father’s estate at Morrisania, New York. Having acquired properties in New York and New Jersey, Morris grew increasingly frustrated with British control over trade policies in the colonies, and eventually became a fierce proponent of independence. 

In 1775, Morris was elected to the Second Continental Congress, and from there was sent to the western country to persuade the Indians not to join the British cause. 

While the movement for independence grew throughout the colonies, the provincial congress of New York was reluctant to endorse the cause wholeheartedly. Yet, Morris held firm in his ardent fervor for independence. It wasn’t until after all other colonies reached a consensus for independence that the New York delegation fully supported the cause. Lewis Morris proudly added his signature to the Declaration of Independence.  

In addition to founding father, Morris carried many other titles: Judge of Westchester County, Senator in New York, Major General in the Westchester County Militia, member of New York’s first Board of Regents of the University of New York, and delegate to the State Convention that ratified the Federal Constitution in 1788.

During his time in the political sphere of influence, Morris fought to better public education across New York, and supported improved transportation systems for the sake of interstate commerce. He passed away at his beloved Morrisania at age 71.