Allen Benton Morse (January 7, 1837 – July 1, 1921) was an American diplomat, jurist and politician. Born in Otisco,

Ionia County, Michigan Ionia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 66,804. The county seat is Ionia. The Ionia County Courthouse was designed by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect. Ioni ...

, Morse studied at the

Michigan State Agricultural College Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its kind in the United States. It i ...

for two years. He then served in the 21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

and was badly wounded losing his left arm. He then studied and then practiced law in

Ionia, Michigan Ionia is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Ionia County, Michigan, United States. The population was 13,378 at the 2020 census. Every July it hosts what is said to be the world's largest free-admission fair. The city is mostly within ...

. He served as county attorney of Ionia County in 1867. Morse also served on the Ionia City Council and as mayor of Ionia, Michigan in 1882. In 1875, Morse served in the

Michigan State Senate The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. Along with the Michigan House of Representatives, it composes the state legislature, which has powers, roles and duties defined by Article IV of the Michigan Constitution, ado ...

and was a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

. Morse then served on the

Michigan Supreme Court The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is Michigan's court of last resort and consists of seven justices. The Court is located in the Michigan Hall of Justice at 925 Ottawa Street in Lansing, the state ...

from 1885 to 1892 and was chief justice. In 1892, Morse sought the Democratic nomination for the

Governor of Michigan The governor of Michigan is the head of state, head of government, and chief executive of the U.S. state of Michigan. The current governor is Gretchen Whitmer, a member of the Democratic Party, who was inaugurated on January 1, 2019, as the stat ...

and lost the race. Morse then served as United States consul, in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

from 1893 to 1897. Around this time, Morse switched to the Republican Party. Morse died suddenly at his home in Ionia, Michigan.

Notable Opinions

Sherwood v. Walker Sherwood v. Walker, 66 Mich. 568, 33 N.W. 919 (Mich. 1887), was a case that has played an important role in the evolution of American contract law involving the doctrine of mutual mistake. One of the main issues in the case was whether the remed ...

Notes

1837 births 1921 deaths People from Ionia County, Michigan People of Michigan in the American Civil War Michigan State University alumni American consuls American amputees American politicians with disabilities Michigan city council members Mayors of places in Michigan Democratic Party Michigan state senators Chief Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court People from Ionia, Michigan 19th-century American diplomats 19th-century American legislators 19th-century American judges Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court American lawyers with disabilities {{Michigan-politician-stub