Judge, politician.

Chief Justice of New Jersey (1739-54, 1756-57, 1760-64). Governor of Pennsylvania (1754-56). As Governor, he vigorously supported proprietary interests and repeatedly clashed with the Pennsylvania Assembly, of which Franklin was a member.

Morris and Franklin were political enemies, but they apparently were on good terms personally, although the surviving correspondence is almost wholly of an official character.

Born in Morrisania, New York. Never married, but had at least three children including a Robert Morris.