Robert Page Waller Morris (June 30, 1853 – December 16, 1924) was a

United States representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

and a

United States district judge The United States district courts are the trial courts of the United States federal judiciary, U.S. federal judiciary. There is one district court for each United States federal judicial district, federal judicial district, which each cover o ...

of the

United States District Court for the District of Minnesota The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (in case citations, D. Minn.) is the United States district court, federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Minnesota. Its two primary courthouses are in Minneapoli ...

Education and career

Born on June 30, 1853, in Lynchburg,

Campbell County, Virginia Campbell County is a United States county situated in the south central part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Located in the Piedmont region of Virginia, Campbell borders the Blue Ridge Mountains. The county seat is Rustburg. Grounded on a ...

, Morris attended a private school. He attended the

College of William & Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III ...

, graduated from

Virginia Military Institute la, Consilio et Animis (on seal) , mottoeng = "In peace a glorious asset, In war a tower of strength""By courage and wisdom" (on seal) , established = , type = Public senior military college , accreditation = SACS , endowment = $696.8 mill ...

in 1872, then

read law Reading law was the method used in common law countries, particularly the United States, for people to prepare for and enter the legal profession before the advent of law schools. It consisted of an extended internship or apprenticeship under the ...

in 1880. He was an Assistant Professor of Mathematics for Virginia Military Institute from 1872 to 1873. He was a Professor of Mathematics for Texas Military Institute (now

TMI Episcopal TMI Episcopal is a private school in San Antonio. Previously known as Texas Military Institute, TMI is a selective coeducational Episcopal college preparatory school with a military tradition in San Antonio, Texas for boarding and day students. ...

) from 1873 to 1876. He was a Professor of Applied Mathematics for Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College (now

Texas A&M University Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, or TAMU) is a public, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System in 1948. As of late 2021, T ...

) from 1876 to 1879. He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Lynchburg from 1880 to 1886. He was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives of the

49th United States Congress The 49th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1885, ...

from Virginia in 1884. He continued private practice in

Duluth , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

starting in 1886. He was a Judge of the Duluth Municipal Court starting in 1889. He was city attorney of Duluth starting in 1894. He was a Judge of the Minnesota District Court for the Eleventh Judicial District from 1895 to 1896.

Congressional service

Morris was elected as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

from

Minnesota's 6th congressional district Minnesota's 6th congressional district includes most or all of Benton County, Minnesota, Benton, Carver County, Minnesota, Carver, Sherburne County, Minnesota, Sherburne, Stearns County, Minnesota, Stearns, Wright County, Minnesota, Wright, A ...

to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

of the 55th, 56th, and

57th United States Congress The 57th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1901, to ...

es, serving from March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1903. He declined to be a candidate for renomination.

Federal judicial service

Morris was nominated by President

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

on March 5, 1903, to the

, to a new seat authorized by 32 Stat. 795. He was confirmed by the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

on March 9, 1903, and received his commission the same day. He assumed inactive

senior status Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges. To qualify, a judge in the Federal judiciary of the United States, federal court system must be at least 65 years old, and the sum of the judge's age and years of servi ...

on June 30, 1923, meaning that while he remained a federal judge, he did not hear any cases or conduct any business for the court. He moved to

Pasadena Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. Its ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, after taking senior status. His service terminated on December 16, 1924, due to his death in

Rochester Rochester may refer to: Places Australia * Rochester, Victoria Canada * Rochester, Alberta United Kingdom *Rochester, Kent ** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area ** History of Rochester, Kent ** HM Prison ...

, Olmsted County, Minnesota. He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth.

References

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Page 1853 births 1924 deaths People from Duluth, Minnesota People from Lynchburg, Virginia Minnesota state court judges Virginia lawyers Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota United States district court judges appointed by Theodore Roosevelt 20th-century American judges College of William & Mary alumni Virginia Military Institute alumni Texas A&M University faculty Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota