Lewis Morris

Of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Lewis Morris had as many or more ties with Royal authority than anyone. His grandfather was the royal governor of New Jersey, and other relatives served as Chief Justice of New York, Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania etc. Like the other signers from New York, his economic position placed him among the wealthiest men of the city, he owned slaves, and would have been expected to assume a moderate position on relations with Great Britain. But Morris was a patriot from the get-go.