John Albert Morris
Encyclopedia
John Albert Morris was an American
businessman widely known as the "Lottery King" and a prominent figure in the sport of Thoroughbred
horse racing
. A native of New Jersey
, he benefited from a large inheritance and added substantially to his fortune through a majority interest in the Louisiana State Lottery Company
.
In 1857, John Morris married Cora Hennen, the daughter of Alfred Hennen, a wealthy and prominent judge in New Orleans. The couple had four children:
who won the 1867 Belmont
and Travers Stakes
. John Morris inherited his father's 25000 acres (101.2 km²) ranch in Gillespie County, Texas
, fourteen miles (21 km) from the town of Kerrville
, where he established a horse breeding
operation.
John Morris owned a large racing stable in the United States and another in Europe. With Leonard W. Jerome as his minority partner, in 1889 he opened Morris Park Racecourse
in Westchester County, New York
. The facility hosted the Belmont Stakes
from 1890 through 1904 as well as the Preakness Stakes
in 1890. A few days before he died in May 1895, John Morris leased the racecourse, with an option to purchase, to the Westchester Racing Association. The Morris heirs sold the property to real estate developers in 1905.
John Albert Morris suffered a stroke
and died at age 59 in 1895 while at his Texas Ranch. His remains were sent by train to New Orleans where he was interred in the Metairie Cemetery
.
Morris Park
in the Bronx, New York is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman widely known as the "Lottery King" and a prominent figure in the sport of Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. A native of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, he benefited from a large inheritance and added substantially to his fortune through a majority interest in the Louisiana State Lottery Company
Louisiana State Lottery Company
The Louisiana State Lottery Company was a private corporation that in the mid-19th century ran the Louisiana lottery. It was for a time the only legal lottery in the United States, and for much of that time had a very foul reputation as a swindle of the state and citizens and a repository of...
.
In 1857, John Morris married Cora Hennen, the daughter of Alfred Hennen, a wealthy and prominent judge in New Orleans. The couple had four children:
- Francis Morris (c.1864–1880)
- Alfred Hennen MorrisAlfred Hennen MorrisAlfred Hennen Morris was an American businessman politician, and racehorse owner/breeder.The son of Louisiana Lottery "king" John Albert Morris and his wife Cora Hennen, he was named for his maternal grandfather, Judge Alfred Hennen, of New Orleans, a Justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court.In...
(1864–1959) — a Vice-Chairman and steward of The Jockey ClubThe Jockey ClubThe Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The... - David Hennen MorrisDavid Hennen MorrisDavid Hennen "Dave" Morris was an American lawyer, diplomat, and Thoroughbred racehorse owner who co-founded the International Auxiliary Language Association ....
(1872–1944) — Lawyer, diplomat, United States Ambassador to BelgiumUnited States Ambassador to BelgiumIn 1832, shortly after the creation of the Kingdom of Belgium, the United States established diplomatic relations. Since that time, a long line of distinguished envoys have represented American interests in Belgium. These diplomats included men and women whose career paths would lead them to...
(1933–1937), and co-founder of the International Auxiliary Language AssociationInternational Auxiliary Language AssociationThe International Auxiliary Language Association was founded in 1924 to "promote widespread study, discussion and publicity of all questions involved in the establishment of an auxiliary language, together with research and experiment that may hasten such establishment in an intelligent manner and...
. - Isabel Morris — married Lewis Cass Ledyard, a grandson of the statesman and politician, Lewis CassLewis CassLewis Cass was an American military officer and politician. During his long political career, Cass served as a governor of the Michigan Territory, an American ambassador, a U.S. Senator representing Michigan, and co-founder as well as first Masonic Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan...
.
Thoroughbred racing
His father Francis Morris was also involved in horse racing and notably owned RuthlessRuthless (horse)
Ruthless was an American Thoroughbred filly and a National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inducted racehorse.-Early life:Owned and bred by Francis Morris of New York, and was foaled on Morris' farm at Throgg's Neck, New York...
who won the 1867 Belmont
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
and Travers Stakes
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers...
. John Morris inherited his father's 25000 acres (101.2 km²) ranch in Gillespie County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, fourteen miles (21 km) from the town of Kerrville
Kerrville, Texas
Kerrville is a city in Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population was 20,425 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was 22,826...
, where he established a horse breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
operation.
John Morris owned a large racing stable in the United States and another in Europe. With Leonard W. Jerome as his minority partner, in 1889 he opened Morris Park Racecourse
Morris Park Racecourse
Morris Park Racecourse was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility from 1889 until 1904. It was located in a part of Westchester County, New York that was annexed into the Bronx in 1895 and later became known as Morris Park...
in Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. The facility hosted the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
from 1890 through 1904 as well as the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
in 1890. A few days before he died in May 1895, John Morris leased the racecourse, with an option to purchase, to the Westchester Racing Association. The Morris heirs sold the property to real estate developers in 1905.
John Albert Morris suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
and died at age 59 in 1895 while at his Texas Ranch. His remains were sent by train to New Orleans where he was interred in the Metairie Cemetery
Metairie Cemetery
Metairie Cemetery is a cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. The name has caused some people to mistakenly presume that the cemetery is located in Metairie, Louisiana, but it is located within the New Orleans city limits, on Metairie Road .-History:This site was previously a horse...
.
Morris Park
Morris Park, Bronx
Morris Park is a neighborhood in the Bronx borough of New York City . The neighborhood is part of Community Board 11 in the East Bronx. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: Pelham Parkway to the north, the Amtrak Northeast Corridor tracks to the east and south, and...
in the Bronx, New York is named in his honor.