Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/459

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MORRISON
MORRISON

Ohio railroad company, in which he remained until 1868. During these years he kept his mind con- stantly on electrical matters, and soon became a recognized expert in all branches of the art, accu- mulating a complete library on the subject. He then entered the service of the Western Union telegraph company, where he was night manager for two years. He was then appointed superintend- ent of the fire-alarm system of Baltimore, which he entirely reorganized. In 1878 Mr. Morrison constructed for the Chesapeake and Ohio canal company the first long line telephone in the world, the length being 210 miles from Georgetown, D. C, to Cumberland, Md. In 1876 he was elected clerk of the Maryland state senate. He was appointed a fire commissioner for Baltimore, and in 1879, while serving in that capacity, was appointed to the wardenship of the city jail, which, under his administration, was entirely reorganized. An English inspector of prisons, who in the course of his professional duty visited this country, pro- nounced this institution the model jail in the United States. In 1880 Mr. Morrison connected himself with the Brush electric company, and through his exertions its method of lighting the city was adopted and is now in successful use. He then erected the Morrison electrical works, and formed the Southern electrical company. In 1887 he resigned the wardenship of the city jail. The Na- tional electric light association of the United States, at their first convention in Chicago in February, 1885, elected him its president, which office he has since held. In 1886 he was elected managing director of the Baxter electric motor company, and he is also manager of the Electric storage company and of the U, S. light and power company. Mr. Morrison has been active in politics as a Democrat.


MORRISON, Joseph Curran, Canadian jurist, b. in the north of Ireland, 20 Aug., 1816; d. in Toronto, 6 Dec, 1885. He was the eldest son of Hugh Morrison, of the 42d Highlanders, and was educated at the Royal Belfast institution, and at Upper Canada college, Toronto. He studied law, was called to the bar in 1839, and entered into a partnership with William Hume Blake. In May, 1843, he became deputy clerk of the executive council of Canada, which post he resigned in 1847, and was elected to the Canada assembly for West York. In 1851 he was defeated for this constitu- ency, but he was elected for Niagara in 1852, and in 1853-'4 held office in the Hincks-Morrin ad- ministration as solicitor-general for Upper Canada. In April, 1856, he became a member of the execu- tive council, and in May receiver-general in the Tache-Macdonald administration, and also a mem- ber of the board of railwciy commissioners. He was re-elected in the following August, and after the retirement of Mr. Tache he retained office un- der the Macdonald-Cartier government. He was appointed in 1856 a member of a commission for consolidating the statutes of Upper Canada, was an unsuccessful candidate to parliament in 1857 and 1858, and in January, 1859, became registrar of Toronto. This office he resigned in 1860 to take the place of solicitor-general in the Cartier- Macdonald administration, which he retained till 18 March, 1862, when he was appointed puisne judge of the court of common pleas. On 24 Aug., 1863, he was promoted to a judgeship in the court of queen's bench, where he remained till he was transferred on 30 Nov., 1877, to the court of ap- peal. He achieved greater distinction at the bar than in politics, and was identified with many im- portant cases, both civil and criminal. He'took an active part in the agitation for the seculariza- tion of the clergy reserves, and the abolition of seigniorial tenure. Judge Morrison was an active promoter of the cause of education, for twenty- eight years was a member of the council of public instruction for Upper Canada, for almost an equal length of time a member of the senate of Toronto university, and during fourteen years chancellor of that institution. He was warm-hearted, genial, and hospitable, and universally popular. — His brother, Angus, Canadian legislator, b. in Edin- burgh, Scotland, in 1822, came to Canada when he was twelve years old, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and served as a bencher of the Law so- ciety for several years. He was elected to the par- liament of Canada for North Simcoe in 1858, and represented that constituency till 1863. He was elected for Niagara in 1864, and again to the Do- minion parliament in 1867. In 1874 he retired from the representation of Niagara, and was an unsuccessful candidate for center Toronto. In 1876-'7 he was mayor of Toronto.


MORRISON, Joseph Wanton, British soldier, b. in New York city, 4 May, 1783; d. at sea, 15 Feb., 1826. His father. John, was deputy commis- sary-general in America. The son entered the British army as ensign in 1793, was lieutenant- colonel of the 89th regiment in 1813, and com- manded the corps of observation that pursued the American army under Gen. James Wilkinson. He met that officer at Chrystler's Field. Canada, and gained a decisive victory. For his conduct on this .occasion Col. Morrison received a medal, a vote of thanks from the lower house of assembly of Canada, and a sword from the merchants of Liverpool. He was severely wounded at Lundy's Lane, and in 1816 was placed on half pay with the brevet of colonel. He resumed active service in 1821, was commissioned colonel of the 44th regi- ment, and the next year was sent to India with the rank of local brigadier-general.


MORRISON, Leonard Allison, historian, b. in Windham., N. H., 21 Feb., 1843. He received an academic education, and was brought up on the homestead farm. He was a member of the state house of representatives in 1885-'6, and state senator in 1887-'8, serving as chairman of the com- mittee on education in both houses. Dartmouth gave him the degree of A. M. in 1884. Mr. Morri- son has been for twenty-five years a contributor to the press. His works are a " History of the ^lori- son or Morrison Family " (Boston, 1880) ; " His- tory of Windham in New Hampshire " (1883) ; and " Rambles in Europe, with Plistorical Facts relat- ing to Scotch- American Families " (1887).


MORRISON, Pitcairn, soldier, b. in New York city, 18 Sept., 1795 ; d. in Baltimore, Md., 5 Oct., 1887. He was commissioned 2d lieutenant of artillery in the U. S. army in October, 1820, promoted 1st lieutenant in 1826, and captain in 1836, and received the brevet of major for gallant conduct at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma in the war with Mexico. He was made major of infantry in 1847. commanded his regiment in 1848-'9, and the post of Fort Lincoln, Tex., in 1850-'l, and became lieutenant-colonel in 1853 and colonel in 1861. He was retired in October, 1863, " for dis- ability incurred in the line of duty," and brevetted brigadier-general in the regular army "for long and faithful services." After this he resided in Baltimore, Md., and at the time of his death he was the oldest officer by commission in the army, with the exception of Gen. William S. Harney.


MORRISON, Thomas Faulkner, Canadian statesman, b. in Londonderry. Nova Scotia, 22 Feb., 1808; d. there, 23 July, 1886. He was of