Robert Morris-Signer of the Constitution

"The United States may command everything I have, except my integrity [i.e., commercial credit], and the loss of that would effectually disable me from serving them more."

Those words came from Robert Morris of Pennsylvania, the man who has become known to as the "financier of the Revolution".  Morris was born on January 31, 1734 in Liverpool, England and he died on May 8, 1806 in Philadelphia.

Robert Morris immigrated to Maryland in 1747 were he later worked in the tobacco export business.  He moved to Philadelphia and partnered with Charles Willing (and yes, Charles was willing) in a business firm that became one of America's leading importing/exporting businesses.  Because of this, Morris was quite well of in matters of money.  Robert Morris held a position on a local committee of businessmen who opposed the Stamp Act.

In the Pennsylvanian congress, Morris sat on the Committee of Correspondence and the Council of Safety, which organized the arming of the state.  He served in Continental Congress from 1775 through 1778.  In congress he served on the Secret Committee for Obtaining Munitions.  Most influentially, however, was his role on the Finance Committee were he secured much needed loans from wealthy businessmen for the cause of the United States.  Morris almost single handedly obtained provisions and supplies for the Continental Army, which was in dire need of anything they could get.  He also contributed much of his own wealth to the cause of Independence.  Robert Morris was one of two people to have signed The Declaration of Independence, The Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution (Roger Sherman was the other).

At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Robert Morris didn't contribute much in terms of open debate in front of the congress.  In fact he only spoke once at the convention.  Instead, Morris would have discussions with some of his greatest friends: Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, and Gouverneur Morris.  Robert Morris is known, however, to have nominated George Washington as the President of the Convention in Philadelphia, in Benjamin Franklin's absence.  Morris, the owner of perhaps the finest three-story mansion in Philadelphia, persuaded George Washington to reside in his home during his time as President of the Congress. William Pierce wrote that, "Robert Morris is a merchant of great eminence and wealth, an able financier, and a worthy patriot.  He has an understanding equal to any public object, and possesses an energy of mind that few men can boast of."  Without Robert Morris, America would not have had the money and to secure such a supreme law as our great Constitution.