James Morrison (mayor)
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James Morrison | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 21, 1789 Derry, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Died | December 17, 1831 (aged 42) Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Colonial Park Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Spouse | Eliza Johnston (m. 1812–1831; his death) |
James Morrison (March 21, 1789 – December 17, 1831) was an attorney, city alderman and mayor of Savannah, Georgia.
Morrison was born in Derry, New Hampshire, in 1789 to Scottish-born Reverend William Morrison and Jane Fullerton. He was born a twin with sister Sally.[1]
He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1807.[1] In 1811, he graduated from Litchfield Law School,[2] where he met George Whitefield of Savannah, Georgia, and his eighteen-year-old cousin Eliza, daughter of the wealthy merchant Matthew Johnston and Elizabeth Whitefield, niece of Reverend George Whitefield. Morrison arranged for the pair to visit his father in Derry.[1]
Career
After graduation, Morrison moved to Savannah. In 1819, he had built a three-story building at the corner of Bull Street and Bay Street which became his attorney's office.[1] It stood across Bay Street from the City Exchange, the predecessor to today's City Hall.
Morrison became the 17th mayor of Savannah in 1821, succeeding Thomas U. P. Charlton, who left his role early to take over as Judge of the Superior Court. Morrison served for 3.5 terms. He served as a city alderman for eight years, and was also secretary of the Union Society, a trustee of the Chatham Academy and a trustee of the Bank of the State of Georgia. He had been chosen as the director of the Marine and Fire Insurance Company in 1818.[1]