| Morgan Lewis  Born: 16-Oct-1754
Birthplace: New York City
Died: 7-Apr-1844
Location of death: New York City
Cause of death: unspecified
Remains: Buried, St. James Cemetery, Hyde Park, NY
Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Politician
Party Affiliation: Democrat-Republican Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Governor of New York, 1804-07 Military service: Continental Army; US Army (War of 1812) The American politician Morgan Lewis was born in New York City on 16 October 1754, was graduated at Princeton in 1773, and studied law. In 1774 he joined the army before Boston as a volunteer, was elected captain of a New York militia regiment, and received a commission as major when this regiment was taken into the Continental service as the 2nd New York. In 1776 Major Lewis was aide to General Horatio Gates, with rank of colonel and quartermaster-general of the northern army, serving throughout the campaign that terminated in the battle of Saratoga. In 1778 Colonel Lewis commanded at the battle of Stone Arabia and at Crown Point. In 1783 he resumed his legal studies, was admitted to the bar of New York, and elected a member of the assembly, first from New York city and afterward from Dutchess county. He became a judge of the court of common pleas, in 1791 Attorney General of the state, in 1792 Chief Justice of its supreme court, and in 1804 Governor of the state. While governor he urged upon the legislature the necessity of national education, and under his administration a permanent fund for common schools was established, and the militia system was enlarged and rendered more efficient. From 1807 till 1812 Governor Lewis lived at his estate at Staatsburg, Dutchess county, and paid much attention to agriculture. In 1812 President James Madison offered him the post of Secretary of War, which he declined, and accepted the appointment of quartermaster-general of the armies of the United States. In 1813 General Lewis was promoted to the rank of major-general. He served on the Niagara frontier, captured Fort George, and commanded at Sackett's Harbor and French Creek. At the close of the war he advanced the funds that were necessary for the discharge of American prisoners in Canada. He remitted all arrears of rents that were due from those of his own tenants in Delaware county that had either gone or sent a son to the war, and by his good management avoided on his own estates all anti-rent difficulties. Early in life Lewis became a Freemason, and he was elected grand master of the order in 1831. He was president of the Historical society and of the Order of the Cincinnati. At the Centennial celebration of the birth of General George Washington, Lewis, who was then in his seventy-ninth year, delivered an oration that gave in a graphic manner an account of Washington's military career. Lewis married Gertrude, daughter of Judge Robert R. Livingston, and left one daughter, Margaret. He died on 7 April 1844 in New York City. Lewis County in New York State is named after him.
Father: Francis Lewis (Congressman, b. 1713, d. 1802)
Mother: Elizabeth Annesley
Wife: Gertrude Livingston (dau. of Robert R. Livingston)
Daughter: Margaret
University: Princeton University (1773)
New York State Senate Middle District (1810-14)
Governor of New York (1804-07)
New York State Court of Appeals (1792-1804)
Attorney General of New York (Nov-1791 to 24-Dec-1792)
New York State Assembly Dutchess County (1791-92)
Freemasonry
Society of the Cincinnati
Is the subject of books:
Biographies of Francis and Morgan Lewis, 1877, BY: Julia Delafield
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