Born in Morrisania (NYC), New York. Graduate of King's College (now Columbia University) in 1768 at age 16. Read law under William Smith and admitted to the bar in 1771 at age 19. Practiced law. Married Anne Carey Randolph December 25, 1809. They had one son.

Served on the provincial congress of New York 1775 to 1777; on the New York constitutional convention in 1776; and on the Council of Safety in 1777. Served in U.S. Continental Congress 1778 to 1779. He was a signer of the Articles of Confederation in 1778.

Morris moved to Philadelphia in 1779. Served as assistant to superintendent of finance Robert Morris (no relation) 1781 to 1785. He developed a plan for decimal coinage.

Elected to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Returned to New York. He traveled to Paris in 1789 to represent American interests in France. Named minister to France in 1792. He remained in Paris during the Reign of Terror. Served in U.S. Senate April 3, 1800 to March 3, 1803. Chairman of Erie Canal Commission 1810 to 1813.

Morris proposed a decimal coinage system based on the Unit with coinage of 100 Units, 1000 Units and 10,000 Units. Pattern pieces were struck bearing the date 1783. Pieces with numbers representing 5, 100, 500 and 1000 Units are known with others possible but not represented with surviving specimens.

He died at Morrisania.

bio:ApCAB; BDC; DAB; Drake; EAB; NCAB 2; TCBDA; WAB; WWA-H