1(5 



THE BOROUGH OF THE BRONX 



He was but twenty-seven years of age when he was appointed 

 by Congress as one of a committee of five to assist General Wash- 

 ington in the reorganization of the army. The committee spent 

 three months with the Commander-in-Chief at Valley Forge, and 

 as a result many reforms were instituted. It was shortly after 

 this, in May, 1780, that he was thrown from his carriage, and 

 his left leg so badly maimed that it had to be amputated. He was 



GOUVERNEUR MORRIS MANSION 



a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which framed 

 the Constitution of the United States, and to him was assigned the 

 literary revision of that masterful instrument. During the French 

 hostilities he was American Minister to France, and he remained 

 in Paris during the whole period of the Reign of Terror. 



In 1799 he was chosen Senator from New York and served 

 until 1803. He was closely associated with Governor George 

 Clinton in the building of the Erie Canal, and was an intimate 



