Robert Morris was a prominent figure in Philadelphia during the American Revolution. Despite not being a scholar or a soldier, he played a critical role in financing the war and establishing the Bank of the United States after. Morris was born in England in 1734 and moved to Philadelphia for school at the age of ten. He began his career as an apprentice in a counting room and went on to become a successful businessman. Morris joined the colonials during the Stamp Act and became involved in the movements against British rule. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775 and played a crucial role in raising funds and provisions for the Continental Army. Morris personally financed the operations of privateers and loaned $10,000 of his own money to the government to provision the troops at the Battle of Trenton. In 1781, Morris submitted a plan for a National Bank, which became The Bank of North America. He was appointed as Financial Agent of the United States and later declined the position of Secretary of the Treasury under President George Washington. Morris retired from public service after serving as a Senator for Pennsylvania. Despite his success, Morris lost his fortune in land speculation and died in poverty at the age of 73.
