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'''Morgan Lewis''' (October 16, 1754 – April 7, 1844) was an American lawyer, politician, and military commander.  The second son of [[Francis Lewis]], a signer of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], Lewis fought in the [[American Revolutionary War]] and the [[War of 1812]].  He served in the New York State Assembly (1789, 1792) and the New York State Senate (1811–1814) and was New York State Attorney General (1791–1801) and governor of New York (1804–1807).

==Early life==
Morgan Lewis was born on October 16, 1754, of [[Wales|Welsh]] descent, the second son of [[Francis Lewis]] (1713–1802) and Elizabeth ([[née]] Annisley) Lewis (1715–1778).  Lewis grew up in [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabethtown, New Jersey]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Davis|first1=Roderick A. |title=LEWIS, Morgan [1754-1844] -- American statesman |url=http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dav4is/people/LVNG210.htm |website=Ancestry. com|accessdate=2015-05-18}}</ref> where he decided to dedicate himself to the [[Minister (Christianity)|ministry]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Morgan Lewis|url = http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/bios/l/morlewis.html|website = www.nysm.nysed.gov|accessdate = 2015-05-25}}</ref> However, based on his father's advice, he attended the College of New Jersey (now [[Princeton University|Princeton]]), graduating in 1773, and began to study law. He read law alongside [[John Jay]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Roper|first1=Donald M|title=Lewis, Morgan (b New York City, 16 Oct 1754; d New York City, 7 Apr 1844). Governor.|url=http://hallofgovernors.ny.gov/MorganLewis|website=New York Hall of Governors|accessdate=2015-05-18}}</ref> His studies were interrupted by military service during the American Revolutionary War. He was admitted to the bar in 1783.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Morgan  Lewis|url = http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_new_york/col2-content/main-content-list/title_lewis_morgan.html|website = www.nga.org|accessdate = 2015-05-25|first = Sobel, Robert, and John|last = Raimo}}</ref> 

==Career==
From September 1, 1776, to the end of the war he was a colonel and the [[Quartermaster]] General for the Northern Department.

In 1774, he joined the American Revolution as a volunteer in the [[Continental Army]]. Lewis was then made a captain of a regiment of the New York militia. Once the 2nd New York militia regiment was organized, he was promoted to the rank of major.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dav4is/people/LVNG210.htm|title = LEWIS, Morgan [1754-1844] -- American statesman|date = |accessdate = 2015-05-19|website = |publisher = ancestorry.com|last = |first = }}</ref> He was then appointed chief-of-staff to General [[Horatio Gates]], with the rank of colonel, and accompanied him [[Invasion of Canada (1775)|into Canada]], and soon after congress appointed him quartermaster-general of the Northern Army. In 1775, he planned and executed the night attack on Stone Arabia, and was in command at the battle of [[Capture of Fort Ticonderoga#Crown Point and the raid on Fort Saint-Jean|Crown Point]], where he was accompanied by New York Governor [[George Clinton (vice president)|George Clinton]]. He was prominent throughout the campaign that ended with the surrender of [[John Burgoyne]] at [[Saratoga campaign|Saratoga]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Morgan Lewis  {{!}} hallofgovernors.ny.gov|url = http://hallofgovernors.ny.gov/MorganLewis|website = hallofgovernors.ny.gov|accessdate = 2015-05-25}}</ref>

===Political career===
After the Revolution, Lewis completed his legal studies while living in [[Albany, New York]], boarding at the riverside home of James Bloodgood. In 1779, the tax list showed him living there with personal property valued at $2,000, one of the city's highest assessments. Later, he qualified for a "bounty right" as a member of the city regiment of the Albany County Militia. During that time, he acquired some Albany property.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Morgan Lewis|url = http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/bios/l/morlewis.html|website = www.nysm.nysed.gov|accessdate = 2015-05-25}}</ref> He was elected to the [[New York State Assembly]], 1789 and 1792, and the [[New York State Senate]] from 1811 to 1814. He was [[New York State Attorney General]] (December 24, 1791 – October 28, 1801) and later Justice and [[Chief Justice]] (October 28, 1801)<ref>{{Cite web|title = Brigadier General Morgan Lewis - Quartermaster General 1812-1813|url = http://www.qmfound.com/BG_Morgan_Lewis.htm|website = www.qmfound.com|accessdate = 2015-05-25|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083556/http://www.qmfound.com/BG_Morgan_Lewis.htm|archivedate = September 24, 2015|df = mdy-all}}</ref> of the [[Supreme Court of New York]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = LEWIS, Morgan [1754-1844] -- American statesman|url = http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dav4is/people/LVNG210.htm|website = freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate = 2015-05-19}}</ref>

He served as [[governor of New York]] from 1804 to 1807, defeating [[VPOTUS|Vice President]] [[Aaron Burr]] in the race to succeed future vice president [[George Clinton (vice president)|George Clinton]] as governor. In the [[New York gubernatorial election, 1804]], he was largely responsible for splitting the [[Jeffersonian Republican Party]] in New York into "Lewisites" (allies of Lewis) and the "Clintonians" (allies of New York Mayor [[DeWitt Clinton]]) with his combination of Lewisites (labeled "[[Quids]]" by the Clintonians) and [[Federalist Party|Federalists]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Morgan Lewis  {{!}} hallofgovernors.ny.gov|url = http://hallofgovernors.ny.gov/MorganLewis|website = hallofgovernors.ny.gov|accessdate = 2015-05-25}}</ref>

During his tenure, the [[United States Military Academy at West Point]] was established, the state's militia system was restructured, and educational improvements were sanctioned.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Morgan  Lewis|url = http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_new_york/col2-content/main-content-list/title_lewis_morgan.html|website = www.nga.org|accessdate = 2015-05-25|first = Sobel, Robert, and John|last = Raimo}}</ref> On April 30, 1807, he was defeated in [[New York gubernatorial election, 1807|his run for re-election]] by [[Daniel D. Tompkins]], also a future vice president. Tompkins received 35,074 votes, and Morgan Lewis received 30,989 votes. He then returned home to [[Staatsburg, New York|Staatsburg]], Dutchess County, New York, where he turned his attention to agriculture. Having given up the practice of law, Lewis established a cloth factory, and for several years devoted himself to manufacturing. The failure of a mercantile house to which his goods were assigned caused him to discontinue the business.<ref>{{Cite web|title = LEWIS, Morgan [1754-1844] -- American statesman|url = http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dav4is/people/LVNG210.htm|website = freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate = 2015-05-25}}</ref>

===War of 1812===
Prior to the [[War of 1812]] Lewis declined the office of [[Secretary of War]] under President [[James Madison]]. Instead, he resumed his duties as [[Quartermaster General of the United States Army|Quartermaster General]] and served in western New York. He was commissioned as a [[brigadier general]] on April 3, 1812, and promoted to [[major general]] on March 2, 1813, as part of his service on the [[Niagara Frontier]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Brigadier General Morgan Lewis - Quartermaster General 1812-1813|url = http://www.qmfound.com/BG_Morgan_Lewis.htm|website = www.qmfound.com|accessdate = 2015-05-25|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083556/http://www.qmfound.com/BG_Morgan_Lewis.htm|archivedate = September 24, 2015|df = mdy-all}}</ref> He commanded the American forces at the [[Battle of Fort George]]. Although the British position was captured, Lewis ordered Colonel [[Winfield Scott]] to break off the pursuit of the defeated British troops. But for Lewis's over-caution, Scott might have been able to capture Major General [[John Vincent (British Army officer)|John Vincent]]'s entire division and greatly weaken the British defense of the Niagara Peninsula. Later, Lewis was appointed as commander of upstate New York. He procured the release of the American prisoners in Canada, advancing from his private fortune the money for its accomplishment, and also rewarding his own tenants who had served in or sent sons to the war, by allowing them free rent for the time they served in the army.<ref>{{Cite web|title = LEWIS, Morgan [1754-1844] -- American statesman|url = http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dav4is/people/LVNG210.htm|website = freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate = 2015-05-25}}</ref>  After the war, Lewis was discharged from the Army on June 15, 1815.

===Later life===
Lewis was a [[electoral college (United States)|presidential elector]] in the [[1828 United States presidential election|presidential election of 1828]].  Lewis was a [[Freemason]], and served as [[Grand Master (Masonic)|Grand Master]] in the [[Grand Lodge of New York]] from 1830-1843.  From 1832 to 1835 he was the President of the [[New-York Historical Society|Historical Society of New York]].  Lewis was an original member of the New York [[Society of the Cincinnati]] and served as the Society's President General from 1839 to 1844.  He also helped to found [[New York University]] in New York City.

==Personal life==
In 1779, he married [[Gertrude Livingston Lewis|Gertrude Livingston]] (1757–1833), the daughter of Margaret Beekman and Judge [[Robert Livingston (1718-1775)|Robert Livingston]]. They lived in [[Rhinebeck (town), New York|Rhinebeck]] and then in [[Hyde Park, New York|Hyde Park]] in [[Dutchess County, New York]]. In 1790, his Rhinebeck household was served by eight slaves.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/bios/l/morlewis.html|title = Morgan Lewis|date = |accessdate = 2015-05-24|website = nysm.gov|publisher = |last = Belinsky|first = Stefan}}</ref> Together, Morgan and Gertrude had:

*[[Margaret Lewis Livingston|Margret Lewis]] (1780–1860),<ref>{{Cite web|title = Morgan Lewis|url = http://www.nndb.com/people/973/000051820/|website = www.nndb.com|accessdate = 2015-05-25}}</ref> who married [[Maturin Livingston]] (1769–1847), a lawyer and politician from New York.

In 1792, Lewis, purchased an estate covering of about 334 acres (135 ha) in [[Staatsburg, New York]] ,and commissioned the construction of a colonial-style house. In the summer of 1824, on his [[Visit of the Marquis de Lafayette to the United States|visit to the United States]], the [[Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette|Marquis de Lafayette]] dined there on his way upriver to visit Lewis' brother-in-law, [[Robert R. Livingston (chancellor)|Chancellor Livingston]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=lotBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA167&lpg=PA167&dq=Thomas+Suckley+%2B+Mt+Rutsen&source=bl&ots=kH29nICy-2&sig=ACfU3U0P-k67yb7IVENbsvSYimPEMCxFpw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjUkYnBxKflAhUkmuAKHYqRCNEQ6AEwA3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=Thomas%20Suckley%20%20%20Mt%20Rutsen&f=false Morse, Howard Holdridge. ''Historical Old Rhinebeck, Echoes of Two Centuries'', Rhinebeck. 1908, p. 242]{{PD-notice}}</ref> 

In 1832, the house was destroyed by a fire, said to be an act of arson committed by disgruntled tenant farmers. After the fire, Morgan Lewis and his wife immediately replaced the structure with a [[Staatsburgh State Historic Site|Greek Revival mansion]] with 25 rooms. Lewis died in New York City April 7, 1844. The house was inherited in 1844 by Morgan Lewis's daughter Margaret and her husband Maturin Livingston.

==Legacy==
The following communities have been named in Lewis' honor:

* [[Lewis County, New York]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA185|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=185}}</ref> 
* The [[Lewiston (town), New York|Town]] and [[Lewiston (village), New York|Village of Lewiston]], in [[New York (state)|New York]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA186|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=186}}</ref> 
* The [[Lewis, Essex County, New York|Town of Lewis]] in [[Essex County, New York]]

==References==

==External links==
* [http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/bios/govmorganlewis.htm Governor Morgan Lewis]
* {{Find a Grave|6846683}}
* [http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/nyhs/lewis/index.html The Morgan Lewis Papers 1715-1860 at the New York Historical Society]

[[Category:Livingston family]]
[[Category:Princeton University alumni]]
[[Category:Governors of New York (state)]]
[[Category:Continental Army officers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Members of the New York State Assembly]]
[[Category:New York state senators]]
[[Category:New York State Attorneys General]]
[[Category:New York University people]]
[[Category:New York Supreme Court Justices]]
[[Category:American people of Welsh descent]]
[[Category:Quartermasters General of the United States Army]]
[[Category:New York (state) Democratic-Republicans]]
[[Category:1828 United States presidential electors]]
[[Category:University and college founders]]
[[Category:People of colonial New York]]
[[Category:Democratic-Republican Party state governors of the United States]]