In West Philadelphia, Born and Raised?

Hello. I'm coming to you from Philadelphia this morning, checking out all the things I haven't seen since 3rd grade.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce you to someone very important to this city: Robert Morris, Jr., "the financier of the American Revolution."

He was, at one time, one of the richest men in America, member of the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence, national superintendent of finance, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and U.S. Senator. He also established the Bank of North America, where Washington College once had an account. And it was Morris who William Smith went to to collect Washington's fifty guineas.

But Morris' journey to prominence began on the Eastern Shore at Oxford, in no small part due to his father, Robert Morris, Sr., who brought his son with him to America.

Morris, Sr., was a factor for the Foster Cunliffe & Sons company. There are a few definitions for a 'factor' in those days, but Goodheart explained it to me as a broker for farmers and shipping companies, with a meaning largely unique on the Chesapeake. Morris' job was, in essence, to make trade possible.

It is said Morris' abilities made Oxford one of the most successful ports in Maryland. Morris dealt in trade (tobacco and slaves) and supplying shipwrights. He pioneered the inspection law on tobacco. Tilghman notes that he was the reason why "[w]hen a planter shipped his own product, a fear of rejection abroad rendered him wary of including anything of an inferior quality." It is fair to say that this practice bolstered Oxford's reputation in the trading world. "After the death of Mr. Morris," Col. Jeremiah Banning wrote, "commerce, splendor and all that animating and agreeable hurry of business at Oxford declined" until the Revolution, "when it became totally deserted as to trade."

Morris, Sr., has some other ties to Washington College, but I will explain them soon, as I am running late and need to get going. By the way, if you're looking to escape Chestertown for a night, it's Restaurant Week here. I reccomend my favorite place, Sansom Street Oyster House. Adam, this is your town -- what do you suggest?

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Eastern Shore, Fifty Guineas, Fresh Prince References, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Restaurants, Robert Morris Jr., Robert Morris Sr., Trade