THE LETTERS OF ROBERT MORRIS

To call Robert Morris a political renaissance man would be an understatement. He was vice president of the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety (1775-76) and was a member of the Continental Congress (1775-78) as well as a member of the Pennsylvania legislature (1778-79, 1780-81, 1785-86). Morris practically controlled the financial operations of the Revolutionary War from 1776 to 1783. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention (1787) and served in the U.S. Senate (1789-95).Perhaps most impressive is the fact that he signed the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation, and later signed the U.S. Constitution.Morris was an incredibly intelligent and proactive man. His contributions to establishing the system of finance for the country, included with his support during the Revolutionary War, set him apart from other Founders. He truly was the country’s first financier. Morris was also very prolific in writing to his fellow Founders.Looking through this collection of letters you will get a real sense of how much he valued communication. He was also a very good writer. His pen flowed freely and reading his letters is an enjoyable experience. Readers will not tire as they work their way forward through the collection.