"Gouverneur" was the French (Huguenot) maiden last name of his mother, and is not to be confused with "governor". Gouverneur Morris was never a governor, but he was homeschooled by tutors and entered college (Columbia University, then called King's College) at the age of 12. He was brilliant and is sometimes called the "Penman of the Constitution." He gave more speeches than anyone else at the Constitutional Convention, a total of 173. He favored a stronger national government. On the personal side, Gouverneur Morris lost one of his legs as a young man, due to a freak carriage accident (there were no cars then). He frequently attended social events and had a terrific sense of humor, but did not marry until he was 57 years old. He and his wife had a son, before Gouverneur Morris passed away at age 64. | "Gouverneur" was the French (Huguenot) maiden last name of his mother, and is not to be confused with "governor". Gouverneur Morris was never a governor, but he was homeschooled by tutors and entered college (Columbia University, then called King's College) at the age of 12. He was brilliant and is sometimes called the "Penman of the Constitution." He gave more speeches than anyone else at the Constitutional Convention, a total of 173. He favored a stronger national government. On the personal side, Gouverneur Morris lost one of his legs as a young man, due to a freak carriage accident (there were no cars then). He frequently attended social events and had a terrific sense of humor, but did not marry until he was 57 years old. He and his wife had a son, before Gouverneur Morris passed away at age 64. |