Jul 27

Jul 27 Morgan Lewis Campaigns Against Vice Presidents

Updated 7/26/21

Morgan Lewis went from Colonel in the Revolutionary War to Major General during the War of 1812.

Along the way he served as Attorney General and then Governor of New York State.

Morgan Lewis

By the Summer of 1776, Morgan Lewis’ father, Francis, had signed the Declaration of Independence.

Shortly thereafter, his mother, Elizabeth, had been taken captive by the British and began her long, amazing trip back to freedom.

Morgan was not prepared to sit back and rest on his family name.

At this point, he had already joined the Continental Army and was serving as Quartermaster of the Northern Department as well as an aide-de-camp to Major General Horatio Gates.

Running For Governor

Morgan Lewis, who had studied law under John Jay before the war, fought throughout the Revolution.

Afterward, he completed his education and became a lawyer in New York. Within a decade he became that State’s Attorney General.

After ten years in that position, he ran for Governor of New York.

His opponent was none other than the sitting Vice President of the United States...Aaron Burr.

Lewis defeated Burr, but it is noteworthy that the latter’s famous duel with Alexander Hamilton came about after comments that were made in regards to this election.

Another VP

Three years later, Lewis was up for reelection.

This time, he ran against Daniel D. Tompkins. Instead of a FORMER Vice President, Tompkins was a FUTURE Vice President.

Morgan lost his election to Tompkins. It seems that it was more difficult to beat a politician on the rise than one who was spiraling downward.

Major General

Although Lewis moved to the private sector to focus on growing New York’s burgeoning cloth manufacturing industry, he was not done serving the United States.

At the outbreak of the War of 1812, President James Madison offered Morgan the office of Secretary of War.

Lewis turned the offer down, believing he would be more useful elsewhere. He took up the position he had received almost forty years prior...Quartermaster General.

Furthermore, he began leading troops in Upstate New York and eventually was promoted to Major General.

Contributions

In addition to services through his official position with the United States, Lewis also contributed privately.

He paid for a supplies and provisions out of his own pocket.

Furthermore, Morgan gave discounts on rent to his tenants who fought for their country.

This lifetime of service put Morgan Lewis in the rare position of a son who contributed more to the American Creation than his father who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Here are some other Founders who became GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK:

John Jay’s Controversial Gubernatorial Campaign

Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins Drinks Himself to Death

George Clinton Governs New York

Surprisingly, this Governor of New York does not have a biography.

However, the War of 1812 is an often overlooked part of the American Founding. If you’d like to know more about it, check out ‘The War That Forged a Nation.’

If you’d like a copy you can get one through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).