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|Founding Documents:=[[United States Constitution]]

|Founding Documents:=[[United States Constitution]]

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'''Gouverneur Morris''' (January 31, 1752 – November 6, 1816) was a statesman, ambassador, orator, senator, [[Founding Fathers|Founding Father]], and the person most responsible for the graceful wording of [[the Constitution]] as the head of the Committee on Style.  For his responsibility on the Committee, Morris has been called by some historians the "Penman of the Constitution."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=3j90mqgMf4IC&pg=PA40 Principled Action: Lessons from the Origins of the American Republic]</ref>  He also did more speaking at the [[Constitutional Convention]] than any other delegate.

'''Gouverneur Morris''' (January 31, 1752 – November 6, 1816) was a statesman, ambassador, orator, senator, [[Founding Fathers|Founding Father]], and the person most responsible for the graceful wording of [[the Constitution]] as the head of the Committee on Style.  For his responsibility on the committee, Morris has been called by some historians the "Penman of the Constitution."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=3j90mqgMf4IC&pg=PA40 Principled Action: Lessons from the Origins of the American Republic]</ref>  He also did more speaking at the [[Constitutional Convention]] than any other delegate.

Morris was one of the most brilliant Founders and yet is unknown to most people today.  His clever writing style, such as saying that presidential nominees must receive the "advice and consent" of the Senate rather than spelling that requirement out further, resulted in the [[U.S. Constitution]] being the most elegant and concise of all constitutions.

Morris was one of the most brilliant Founders and yet is unknown to most people today.  His clever writing style, such as saying that presidential nominees must receive the "advice and consent" of the Senate rather than spelling that requirement out further, resulted in the [[U.S. Constitution]] being the most elegant and concise of all constitutions.

Morris was a member of the [[Federalist Party]] and a critic of the [[Thomas Jefferson|Jefferson Administration]], though Morris favored the [[Louisiana Purchase]].

Morris was a member of the [[Federalist Party]] and a critic of the [[Thomas Jefferson|Jefferson Administration]], though Morris favored the [[Louisiana Purchase]].

==Early life==

==Early life==

Gouverneur Morris was born at Morrisania, near the city of New York, January 31, 1752.  He is the brother of another [[Founding Father]], [[Lewis Morris]], as well as Staats Long Morris,<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Old_New_York_Frontier/7PocAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA366 The Old New York Frontier]</ref> a loyalist major-general in the [[American Revolution]]. He was educated at King's College, New York, where he was graduated bachelor of arts in May, 1768.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=iZdRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA51 Encyclopædia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics, and biography]</ref>

Gouverneur Morris was born at Morrisania, near the city of New York, January 31, 1752.  He is the brother of another [[Founding Father]], [[Lewis Morris]], as well as Staats Long Morris,<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Old_New_York_Frontier/7PocAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA366 The Old New York Frontier]</ref> a loyalist major-general in the [[American Revolution]]. He was educated at King's College, New York, where he was graduated Bachelor of Arts in May, 1768.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=iZdRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA51 Encyclopædia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics, and biography]</ref>

Immediately after he entered the office of William Smith (the historian of the colony), as a student of law. In 1771, he was licensed to practice law. His proficiency in all his studies was remarkable. He acquired early much reputation as a man of brilliant talents and various promise. His person, address, manners, elocution, were of a superior order.  In 1775, after three years of study with William Smith, Morris was admitted to the bar.  Smith was one of New York's leading legal minds as well as an ardent opponent of the British Empire's treatment of the colonies.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Zyra6H3Xz3YC&pg=PP4 Gouveneur (i.e. Gouverneur) Morris]</ref>

Immediately after he entered the office of William Smith (the historian of the colony), as a student of law. In 1771, he was licensed to practice law. His proficiency in all his studies was remarkable. He acquired early much reputation as a man of brilliant talents and various promise. His person, address, manners, elocution, were of a superior order.  In 1775, after three years of study with William Smith, Morris was admitted to the bar.  Smith was one of New York's leading legal minds as well as an ardent opponent of the British Empire's treatment of the colonies.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Zyra6H3Xz3YC&pg=PP4 Gouveneur (i.e. Gouverneur) Morris]</ref>

==Constitutional Convention==

==Constitutional Convention==

In 1787, he served with distinction as a member of the [[Constitutional Convention|convention for framing the constitution of the United States]].  Other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Convention were [[George Clymer]], [[Thomas Fitzsimons]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Jared Ingersoll]], [[Thomas Mifflin]], [[Robert Morris (financier)|Robert Morris]], and [[James Wilson]].

In 1787, he served with distinction as a member of the [[Constitutional Convention|convention for framing the constitution of the United States]].  Other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the convention were [[George Clymer]], [[Thomas Fitzsimons]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Jared Ingersoll]], [[Thomas Mifflin]], [[Robert Morris (financier)|Robert Morris]], and [[James Wilson]].

At the Convention, Morris played a prominent part in the wording and style of the convention.  Because of this, Morris has been called by some historians as an "amanuensis".

At the convention, Morris played a prominent part in the wording and style of the convention.  Because of this, Morris has been called by some historians as an "amanuensis".

At the Convention, Morris criticized "Citizens of the World" and called for constitutional restrictions on foreigners such as a ban on holding office.<ref>[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_809.asp Madison Debates – Tuesday August 9, 1787]. ''The Avalon Project''. Retrieved December 8, 2018.</ref>

At the convention, Morris criticized "Citizens of the World" and called for constitutional restrictions on foreigners such as a ban on holding office.<ref>[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_809.asp Madison Debates – Tuesday August 9, 1787]. ''The Avalon Project''. Retrieved December 8, 2018.</ref>

==Re-entry to Private Life==

==Re-entry to Private Life==