Difference between revisions of "John Morton"
(Created page with 'right|200px|thumb| John Morton '''John Morton''' (b. 1724; d. April 1, 1777) is a founding father of America, an extensive legal career as a Justice,...') |
m |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Johnmorton.jpg|right|200px|thumb| John Morton]] | [[File:Johnmorton.jpg|right|200px|thumb| John Morton]] | ||
| − | '''John Morton''' (b. 1724; d. April 1, 1777) is a founding father of [[America]], an extensive legal career as a Justice, presided in the [[Stamp Act | + | '''John Morton''' (b. 1724; d. April 1, 1777) is a founding father of [[America]], an extensive legal career as a Justice, presided in the [[Stamp Act]] Congress, Chairman of the committee which reported the [[Articles of Confederation]], <ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/morton.htm John Morton, UShistory.org</ref> and signed the [[Declaration of Independence]]. Noted for his intelligence and hard work. |
==Early Life== | ==Early Life== | ||
Revision as of 04:08, August 5, 2009
John Morton (b. 1724; d. April 1, 1777) is a founding father of America, an extensive legal career as a Justice, presided in the Stamp Act Congress, Chairman of the committee which reported the Articles of Confederation, [1] and signed the Declaration of Independence. Noted for his intelligence and hard work.
Early Life
John was born in Ridley, Chester County Pennsylvania, now called Delaware County. He was the great-grandson of Swedish immigrants. At a young age, John's father died and he was raised by his English stepfather John Sketchley. John Morton was raised a farm boy and started out in surveying. In 1748 he married Ann Justis and they had eight children.
Politics
Morton was elected in 1756, for a decade he would serve in the Provincial Assembly, sometimes as Speaker. He filled numerous civil offices in Pennsylvania such as Justice of the Peace and Sheriff. In 1774, John was elected to the Continental Congress, Morton supported the vote for independence and signed the Declaration. John wouldn't live to see his oversight of the Articles of Confederation get ratified.
Death
Before signing, his sympathies were with the British. When he changed his mind for independence his friends, relatives, neighbors turned against him and it affected his health. Just eight short months after signing the Declaration he was dead. His last spoken words on his deathbed were, "Tell them they will live to see the hour when they shall acknowledge my signing of the Declaration of Independence to have been the most glorious service that I ever rendered my country."
References
- ↑ [http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/morton.htm John Morton, UShistory.org