James Morris III

James Morris, III
Signature
Born(1752-01-19)January 19, 1752
South Farms, Connecticut
Died(1820-04-20)April 20, 1820
Goshen, Connecticut
AllegiancePatriot (American Revolution)
Service/branchConnecticut militia, Continental Army
RankMajor
Battles/warsBattle of Germantown, Siege of Yorktown
Other workFounded the Morris Academy

James Morris III ((1752-01-19)January 19, 1752 – (1820-04-20)April 20, 1820) was a Continental Army officer from Connecticut during the American Revolutionary War and founder of the Morris Academy, a pioneer in coeducation.[1]

Born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, James Morris spent his early life hoping and training to be a minister.[2] However, after graduating from Yale College,[3] Morris accepted a commission of First Lieutenant from the Continental Army and joined the fight for American Independence.[4] Morris was captured during the Battle of Germantown and spent most of the remaining war in captivity.[5][6] Upon his release, Morris was promoted to the rank of Captain and supported Alexander Hamilton in the Siege of Yorktown.[6][7] When he returned from the war, Morris began and ran an academy that trained both boys and girls together, a rarity at the time.[8][9]

James Morris died in 1820.[10] The South Farms section of the town of Litchfield, where he was born, was incorporated as a separate entity in 1859 and re-named Morris in his honor.[11]

  1. ^ Strong 1976
  2. ^ Carhart 1922, p. 176
  3. ^ Keefer 1947, p. 16
  4. ^ Keefer 1947, 18
  5. ^ Keefer 1947, pp. 18-19
  6. ^ a b Keefer 1947, p. 23
  7. ^ Keefer 1947, p. 25
  8. ^ Keefer 1947, p. 29
  9. ^ Keefer 1947, p. 32
  10. ^ Keefer 1947, p. 37
  11. ^ "Morris". Connecticut history. Connecticut Humanities. 28 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2013-10-13.