Random Wild Life Of Gouverneur Morris, The Most Mysterious Founding Father Of Them All (12 items)

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  (#4) Morris Lost His Leg After Sleeping With A Married Woman

  Morris lost his leg at age 32 after being hit by a carriage. But what sounds like a simple accident goes much deeper. The incident happened in Philadelphia at the intersection of Logan's Alley and Dock Street, according to historian Dave Kimball. Morris, a reputed ladies' man, found himself in hot water after a furious husband learned the Founding Father was sleeping with his wife.

  Morris was running from the scorned husband when a carriage ran over his leg. Unfortunately, it had to be amputated. After the accident, one of Morris's friends optimistically hoped that the new peg leg might help Morris avoid the "the pleasures and dissipations of life, into which young men are too apt to be led." In response, Morris quipped, "You argue the matter so handsomely, and point out so clearly the advantages of being without legs, that I am almost tempted to part with the other."
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  (#8) Morris Hated Slavery, Unlike Many Other Founding Fathers

  The Declaration of Independence famously stated, "All men are created equal." However, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned nearly a thousand slaves in total. In sharp contrast, Morris strongly opposed slavery. During the Constitutional Convention, Morris called slavery a "nefarious institution."

  He harshly condemned the practice, saying, "Proceed southwardly, and every step you take, through the great regions of slaves, presents a desert increasing with the increasing proportion of these wretched beings."
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  (#7) Morris Came Up With "We The People Of The United States"

  In 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia to draft a new Constitution. Morris became one of the most important members of the Constitutional Convention, giving more speeches than any other delegate - 173, to be exact. Morris promoted a strong presidency with veto power, as well as an elitist Senate. He also strongly opposed slavery. 

  Morris was responsible for polishing the final draft of the Constitution, and in doing so created the document's most important line. The original draft read:

  We the people of the states of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare and establish the following constitution for the government of ourselves and our posterity.

  Morris changed it to the much more succinct, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union..."
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  (#11) It's Hard To Keep All The Morrises Straight

  Gouverneur Morris wasn't the only Morris who witnessed the founding of the country. His half-brother Lewis Morris also signed the Declaration of Independence. His financier friend Robert Morris, who was not directly related to Gouverneur, also penned his name on the document.

  After the war, Gouverneur and Robert collaborated to establish America's financial security. Robert Morris acted as Superintendent of Finance during the Revolutionary War, almost single-handedly keeping the war effort afloat. But Robert faced a significant downfall of his own. While Gouverneur was serving in the US Senate, Robert lost much of his money speculating on land and died in near poverty.

  As for Gouverneur's unique first name, it was his mother's maiden name. And yes, it means governor. Today, BabyNamesPedia reports, "Gouverneur is not popular as a baby name for boys."
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  (#2) Morris Attempted Surgery On His Urethra With A Whalebone, And It Killed Him

  Late in life, Morris experienced a blockage in his urethra that gave him trouble urinating. Today, scholars believe he may have been suffering from prostate cancer. The crafty Founding Father took a DIY approach to the problem - he attempted to treat the blockage by sticking a piece of whalebone up his urethra. In the process, he caused a great deal of damage that ultimately contributed to his death.

  Days after he died, a Boston newspaper reported that Morris died from "a short but distressing illness." 
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  (#12) Morris Served In The Continental Congress As An Ally of George Washington

  During the American Revolution, Morris worked for the New York revolutionary government and later served in the Continental Congress as one of its youngest members. Morris became close with George Washington, as well as many other Founding Fathers. Morris, who kept a detailed diary and recorded many details about his life in letters, served on multiple committees during the Continental Congress. And he wrote that he did the vast majority of the work on every committee on which he served.

  Morris was a strong supporter of George Washington, and the two remained close for decades. Later, Morris played a central role in the Constitutional Convention. He was instrumental in shaping the Constitution that has governed America for centuries.

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