Francis Morris
Encyclopedia
Francis J. Morris, MBE
, KC
(December 5, 1862 – February 12, 1947) was born in St. John's
, Newfoundland
, Canada
son of Catherine Fitzgerald and Edward Morris and brother of Edward P. Morris
. Morris completed his schooling at Saint Bonaventure's College
. Enrolled as a solicitor
on November 29, 1886 he was called to the Bar
of Newfoundland on November 21, 1867.
Morris worked in the law firm Morris and Morris for many years and went on to become the solicitor for the St. John's Municipal Council
, a position he held for 24 years. In 1902 he was named to the King's Counsel.
In the November 6, 1889 Newfoundland general election, Morris ran for the Liberal Party
in the two-member district of Harbour Main. Morris had defeated the incumbent Maurice Fenelon
convincingly. Morris also won his second term in office in the 1893 election running in the same district of Harbour Main. In 1904 Morris was appointed as Speaker of the House, a position he held for the next four years even while his brother broke with the Bond
government, resigned from the Cabinet
and crossed the floor to sit with the opposition. Morris kept in political life until 1917 when he resigned from the House of Assembly
to accept the appointment as Judge
of the Central District Court.
Morris was very influential in his many non political pursuits; he was a member of the Roman Catholic board of education for 28 years. During that time he was also a member of the board of governors for Saint Bonaventure's College
. Morris was also an avid sports fan and was a member of the St. John's Regatta
Committee for 38 years. He was also the first president of the Newfoundland Horseman’s Association. He chaired the recruiting committee for the Newfoundland Regiment from 1915 to 1918 and was awarded the Order of the British Empire
in 1919 for his efforts.
Morris was also the founding member of the Catholic Cadet Corps and of the Academia Institute, and a life-long member of the Benevolent Irish Society
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, KC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(December 5, 1862 – February 12, 1947) was born in St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
son of Catherine Fitzgerald and Edward Morris and brother of Edward P. Morris
Edward Patrick Morris, 1st Baron Morris
Edward Patrick Morris, 1st Baron Morris was a lawyer and Prime Minister of Newfoundland.Born in St. John's, Morris was educated at the University of Ottawa, joined the bar in 1885, and was a counsel for the British government during the North American fisheries arbitration in 1910 receiving a...
. Morris completed his schooling at Saint Bonaventure's College
Saint Bonaventure's College
St. Bonaventure's College is an independent kindergarten to grade 12 Catholic School in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located in the historic centre of North America's oldest city, adjacent to the Roman Catholic Basilica of St...
. Enrolled as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
on November 29, 1886 he was called to the Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
of Newfoundland on November 21, 1867.
Morris worked in the law firm Morris and Morris for many years and went on to become the solicitor for the St. John's Municipal Council
Municipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
, a position he held for 24 years. In 1902 he was named to the King's Counsel.
In the November 6, 1889 Newfoundland general election, Morris ran for the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
in the two-member district of Harbour Main. Morris had defeated the incumbent Maurice Fenelon
Maurice Fenelon
Maurice Fenelon was an Irish-born educator, merchant and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented St. John's West in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1871 to 1878....
convincingly. Morris also won his second term in office in the 1893 election running in the same district of Harbour Main. In 1904 Morris was appointed as Speaker of the House, a position he held for the next four years even while his brother broke with the Bond
Robert Bond
Sir Robert Bond was the Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1900 to 1909. He was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, as the son of merchant John Bond. Bond grew up in St. John's until 1872 when his father died and left the family a good deal of money...
government, resigned from the Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
and crossed the floor to sit with the opposition. Morris kept in political life until 1917 when he resigned from the House of Assembly
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
to accept the appointment as Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the Central District Court.
Morris was very influential in his many non political pursuits; he was a member of the Roman Catholic board of education for 28 years. During that time he was also a member of the board of governors for Saint Bonaventure's College
Saint Bonaventure's College
St. Bonaventure's College is an independent kindergarten to grade 12 Catholic School in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located in the historic centre of North America's oldest city, adjacent to the Roman Catholic Basilica of St...
. Morris was also an avid sports fan and was a member of the St. John's Regatta
Royal St. John's Regatta
The Royal St. John's Regatta is North America's oldest annual sporting event with documented proof of 1816 boat races. There is credible contention that St. John's regattas were held even earlier than 1816, likely in the 18th century....
Committee for 38 years. He was also the first president of the Newfoundland Horseman’s Association. He chaired the recruiting committee for the Newfoundland Regiment from 1915 to 1918 and was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1919 for his efforts.
Morris was also the founding member of the Catholic Cadet Corps and of the Academia Institute, and a life-long member of the Benevolent Irish Society
Benevolent Irish Society
The Benevolent Irish Society is a philanthropic organization founded on 17 February 1806, a month before the Feast of St. Patrick, in St. John's, Newfoundland. It is the oldest philanthropic organization in North America. Membership is open to adult residents of Newfoundland who are of Irish birth...
.