Gouverneur Morris (The Revolution Ended)

Gouverneur Morris (January 30, 1752-November 6, 1816) was the 3rd Vice-President of the United States, the 3rd Secretary of the State, a founding father of the United States, and a signatory of the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution.

Pre-Vice Presidency

Before becoming the 3rd Vice-President of the United States, he was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1777-1778 representing the Westchester County district (now Bronx County). He along with other members of the New York State Congress turned New York from an individual colony into a state. In 1785 he was appointed as the 3rd Secretary of the State under President Alexander Hamilton. As secretary he advised Hamilton to increase the number of troops and machines in Yorktown under a well balanced budget. He also encouraged him to lower or eliminate tariffs but Hamilton thought it would be best to increase whiskey tariffs and add a tax onto it.

Vice-Presidency

In 1793 he became the 3rd Vice-President of the United States under President John Hancock. As Vice-President he went to France and Britain to seek out solutions to diplomacy so America would not have another war. Morris also advised President Hancock to balance the budget but he insisted to increase the military so it's prepared for another war putting the nation into a lot of debt. With President Hancock's health problems, Vice-President Morris did almost all of his meetings with other leaders with the secretary of the state, pushed congress to pass laws, and dealt with most of the budget. While many citizens disliked Hancock due to his inability to push congress to pass laws and balance the budget well, Morris was well liked by many of them

Post Vice-Presidency and Legacy

After the Vice-Presidency was over, he and his wife Nancy moved to St. Lawrence County, New York to spend their retirement. Many citizens were hoping he would run for President in 1796 but he declined due to the demands. In 1810 he named their town Gouverneur, New York named after him. He died on November 6, 1816 from internal injuries and infection caused by trying to clear a blockage in his urinary tract with a piece of whalebone. He is known as one of the best Vice-Presidents in American History.